PRICE OF BOOKS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1933, Page 6

PRICE OF BOOKS

A correspondent writes:—To-day (Wednesday) I visited a city bookshop-to purchase a school book, priced a few days ago ss. Six shillings was asked for it. I inquired the reason and was told it vas the increased exchange; it was admitted the book was in stock before the increase; it was alleged the draft for it had not yet been met. I pointed out that'assuming the draft were riot yet paid for, all they were entitled to, unless they sought extra profit on the exchange, was 13 2-3 per cent, on some part only, of the selling price; ss, not 20 per cent, on the. whole Belling price. It was admitted an. error in costing had been made and 5s 6d was accepted. Is there no redress against such tactics? ; Upon inquiry, it was pointed out to a Tost" representative that there could hardly be a question as to what profit a bookseller is entitled to: he is qjjjte within his rights in charging what he likes. The 'redress against such; tactics" is for the public to refrain from buying; competition preventing exploitation of the public. On some low-priced lines it is not-practicable to increase the selling price to meet the added cost of exchange: the loss incurred^ on these lines is sometimes^ made up-on; others by.selling at a price.' which; to' a figure slightly in excess of that warranted, by the increase in exchange. ■'■'•.'•''•