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I thought the article would interest my publisher Zumaya Publications, and here's her comment (reprinted with permission):
"Sadly, it wouldn't surprise me if this happened, and it would very
much be a bad thing for publishers and authors. It would "Wal-
Martize" the industry, in that they would then have the clout to
demand deeper and deeper discounts from publishers who depend on that
kind of distribution. I know it bugs people that I'm not more active
trying to get our books into the chains but that's why. In the end,
it would run us right into the ground, just like Wal-Mart did to
Rubbermaid.
Perhaps worse, the consumers would rejoice because of the
monopolistic price decreases--never realizing that they are being
treated to de facto censorship, since only the publishers willing to
kiss corporate butt would get their books stocked."
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