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17/07/2007
Asda resolves Harry Potter row
Supermarket chain Asda has resolved its dispute over the new Harry Potter book with publisher Bloomsbury.
Bloomsbury had cancelled Asda's order of 500,000 copies of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', which is released on July 21.
Bloomsbury claimed that the decision was sparked by the fact that the supermarket chain owed them money. However, Asda claimed that the publisher was angry over the chain's plans to sell the book at just under half the recommended retail price of £17.99.
The supermarket chain had accused Bloomsbury of "attempting to hold children to ransom" by raising the price of the latest Harry Potter book - the seventh and final in the series - to £17.99, which they said was twice the average child's pocket money and £5 more than the average children's hardback bestseller.
Peter Pritchard, Director of General Merchandise at Asda, accused the publisher of "blatant profiteering", saying: "A family of four would have to spend over £36 if they had to pay this price, which is just unacceptable."
On Tuesday afternoon, Asda confirmed that a payment had been sent to Bloomsbury and that the issue has now been resolved.
(KMcA/JM)
Bloomsbury had cancelled Asda's order of 500,000 copies of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', which is released on July 21.
Bloomsbury claimed that the decision was sparked by the fact that the supermarket chain owed them money. However, Asda claimed that the publisher was angry over the chain's plans to sell the book at just under half the recommended retail price of £17.99.
The supermarket chain had accused Bloomsbury of "attempting to hold children to ransom" by raising the price of the latest Harry Potter book - the seventh and final in the series - to £17.99, which they said was twice the average child's pocket money and £5 more than the average children's hardback bestseller.
Peter Pritchard, Director of General Merchandise at Asda, accused the publisher of "blatant profiteering", saying: "A family of four would have to spend over £36 if they had to pay this price, which is just unacceptable."
On Tuesday afternoon, Asda confirmed that a payment had been sent to Bloomsbury and that the issue has now been resolved.
(KMcA/JM)
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