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    Barnes & Noble says it won't stock Amazon titles

    Associated Press – Wed, Feb 1, 2012

    NEW YORK (AP) — Barnes & Noble is attempting to irk its publishing rival Amazon.com Inc. by not stocking Amazon published titles in its stores.

    The largest U.S. traditional bookseller has lost customers to cheaper online rivals like Amazon.com and discount stores. To fight back, it has invested heavily in an e-bookstore and Nook e-book readers, which compete with Amazon's Kindle e-readers.

    Amazon, meanwhile, has been steadily expanding its publishing operations, signing exclusive deals with authors such as filmmaker-actress Penny Marshall and best-selling self-help author Timothy Ferris. It also recently started an imprint for science fiction, fantasy and horror.

    Publishers and booksellers have been worried about Amazon's dual roles as client and competitor. Some bookstores have expressed strong reservations about selling books released by Amazon.

    On Tuesday, New York-based Barnes & Noble said outright it wouldn't sell the titles.

    Barnes & Noble Chief Merchandising Officer Jaime Carey said Amazon's exclusive deals with publishers, agents and the authors they represent have hindered Barnes & Noble's ability to offer some e-books to its customers.

    "Their actions have undermined the industry as a whole and have prevented millions of customers from having access to content," he said in an emailed statement. "It's clear to us that Amazon has proven they would not be a good publishing partner to Barnes & Noble as they continue to pull content off the market for their own self-interest."

    Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Seattle-based online retailer on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter results which indicated that its recent fast revenue growth might be moderating. Revenue rose 35 percent to $17.4 billion, but that was nearly a billion short of what analysts had expected. The shortfall was due mainly to a slowdown in Amazon's media business, which includes books, DVDs and content consumed on its Kindle tablet and e-reader devices.

    Its shares dropped $19.41, or 10 percent, to $173.03 in morning trading Wednesday. Barnes & Noble stock dipped 7 cents to $12.

     

    21 comments

    • Charlie
      Charlie  •  3 mths ago
      Why can't companies work together rather than go bankrupt to prove a point?
      • Mary LouK
        Mary LouK 3 mths ago
        Good question. Although, I see how hard it is for people to get along, so I think that explains some of it . . .
    • george
      george  •  Hagerstown, Maryland  •  3 mths ago
      This is STUPID. If B.&N. does not sell a book people WILL buy it from Amazon. Where's the logic? O by the way I encourage both to sell more reference books. Where are they?
    • Joe
      Joe  •  Montville, Connecticut  •  3 mths ago
      Cut your nose off to spite your face
    • Truth not Insult
      Truth not Insult  •  3 mths ago
      Barnes and Nobles forced all the mom & pop stores out of business. Now the chickens have come home to roost and they think it's unfair. Awesome.
      • Kym
        Kym 3 mths ago
        How's that?
        Back a couple of years ago when I was looking for an e-reader the people at Borders told me that "Borders does not support e-books and prefers to cater to people that love books" well we see where that got them (can you say chapter 13). In this case it was Amazon purchasing Borders e-book library. It was Borders if I remember correctly that aggressively went after the small book stores.
        Just like any business you have to evolve and if you are the little guy then you have to keep on top of things - simple the nature of the beast.
        How can you blame someone else bad business decisions on another company?
        Vromans here in Ca is more like a cozy home they do a lot of books and material that does not translate into the electronic medium and that is what keeps them competitive they simply found a niche.
    • yahooblows
      yahooblows  •  3 mths ago
      Yet they can't figure out why they are going bankrupt.
      • Kym
        Kym 3 mths ago
        They are not going bankrupt
        You have B&N confused with Borders that sold their e-library to Amazon and they still don't have as many books in their library as B&N
        Every hear of the Long tail? well it's Barnes and Noble that have a firm grip on it
      • yahooblows
        yahooblows 3 mths ago
        Kym, maybe you should do some research before trying to discuss something you clearly know very little about. B&N has been in financial trouble for quite some time, and they've even publicly considered selling off their Nook business to try and save the brick and mortar side of the business (which is stupid since e-readers are the future). Feel free to look it up.
    • Herotodus
      Herotodus  •  3 mths ago
      This is all the more reason to simply not purchase ebooks of any kind. I'll stick to the old fashioned paper variety. That way I can read my book regardless of whose book store I bought it from and regardless of whether I have the right vendor's ebook reader. So long as my eyes continue to work and the book is in English, the paper book is compatible with me.
      • Max Fubar
        Max Fubar 3 mths ago
        Plus they can't delete paper additions or monitor your reading habits that they report to DHS (itself a major joke).
      • phriedom
        phriedom 3 mths ago
        But you missed the point. Because Amazon has exclusive eBook deals and won't put their stuff on the Nook, B&N retaliated by not putting Amazon print books on their shelves. So, this doesn't just effect ebooks.
    • LizaH
      LizaH  •  3 mths ago
      Amazon is a behemoth, I don't B&N not selling their books is going to be an issue. Besides, seeing as they are direct competitors, not sure why B&N should carry them. That's like saying Apple should start selling Microsoft products.
      • Kym
        Kym 3 mths ago
        Large does not always come out to be better
        But I do agree with you LizaH why would B&N carry Amazon books ... OK granted they will and do carry books from Smashwords and LuLu and pretty much any other e-book self publishing outfit but Hey! you gotta draw the line somewhere.
    • Gina
      Gina  •  3 mths ago
      Barnes & Noble is the last of the major bookstore chains left. I hope they survive the attacks and onslaught they get from those Amazon Kindle toys. Real bookstores need to exist, where you can still lounge around and read magazines and books in your hands before purchase.
    • Incredulous
      Incredulous  •  3 mths ago
      I think this will hurt Barnes & Noble more than Amazon.
    • SeekingSanity
      SeekingSanity  •  3 mths ago
      B&N is practically a monopoly in the paper book retailing business, and obviously doesn't like the competition. I would suggest that Justice anti-trust lawyers take a peek at this. Not trying to favor Amazon, just saying field should be level. By the way, I won't be visiting B&N anytime soon now.
    • JosephA
      JosephA  •  3 mths ago
      ... and that's why I got a tablet that's not exclusive to Amazon or B&N. I have apps for Kindle, Nook, and Google books. I can always get ink & paper books from my local mom & pop store.
    • cachesoul
      cachesoul  •  3 mths ago
      To Barnes and Noble, if you fail to offer the titles that I want to read you fail me as a customer. Customer satisfaction should be your primary objective... you colors are beginning to show.
    • PV
      PV  •  3 mths ago
      best way to handle it...if you have a nook or a kindle...get a library card and download ebooks to either one. Saves me a lot of money and it's incredibly simple to accomplish. Keep it for 2 weeks and then check it back in online...like you would if you went into a library to get a book. Phoenix libraries and Maricopa county libraries have made it nice for Arizona! no need to mess with B&N or Amazon. You can even check out a nook or kindle if you don't own one!
    • phriedom
      phriedom  •  3 mths ago
      If Amazon is going to refuse to put their ebook titles on the Nook, then I guess it is only fair that B&N refuse to put Amazon print books on their store shelves. Fair, but not necessarily smart. I think the two companies might be better off cooperating and making the Nook and Kindle compatible and agreeing on some revenue sharing with their books in each others ebook stores.

      I think I would like an e-reader, but I don't buy one because I'm afraid to have a Nook and have the books I want to read available only on the Kindle, or vice-versa. If I get a smart-phone or a tablet before they get it sorted out, I may never buy a dedicated e-reader.
    • William S
      William S  •  Las Vegas, Nevada  •  3 mths ago
      Thats OK Barnes & Noble won't be around much longer.
    • James
      James  •  3 mths ago
      Amazon: The Evil Empire.
    • Ḏα√їḓ
      Ḏα√їḓ  •  San Antonio, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      And the book burning begins.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Quincy, Massachusetts  •  3 mths ago
      Barnes and Noble sucks.
    • DAVID
      DAVID  •  Reno, Nevada  •  3 mths ago
      Barnes and Noble has a warehouse in Reno,NV. When they advertise for a warehouse supervisor they require them to speak Spanish. Nuf said; boycott the cheap labor, third world exploiting #$%$
    • Max Fubar
      Max Fubar  •  3 mths ago
      Both companies have but a couple of years left.
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