( Lyricken )

I'd like to add a (fairly long and involved) note to this - apologies to those with sort attention-spans. :)

As an actual employee of Dymocks (I manage a store), it's probably worth my mentioning that the so-called 'Coalition for Cheaper Books' was never, and is not now, *necessarily* backed by the Dymocks *franchisees* who actually own and run the individual stores. I can only speak for the dozen or so franchisees to whom I personally have spoken (or whose opinions have been passed on to me by other franchisees) regarding this issue, but the fact that *none* of those franchisees were enthusiastic about the campaign does suggest an overall trend.

There are two main reasons for this lack of enthusiasm. One is that, throughout this campaign, franchisees were given *exactly* the same information by Dymocks Head Office that was given to the media and the general public, usually in the form of memos and press releases. In other words, at no time that I've been made aware of were franchisees asked to comment upon, or contribute to, the setting up of this Coalistion, before or during the campaign. At no point, either, have they been made privy to the 'deeper motivations' - if any - behind the campaign. Yes, I know you only have my word on this, but there it is.

The second reason brings us back towards the issue that Rob has explored. There are currently many threats to, and problems within, the Australian bookselling industry (which includes everyone from authors, agents and editors, to printers, publishers, suppliers, booksellers and - yes - customers), the most obvious of which are posed by changing trends and technologies (plus the Global Financial Chicken, which has made this last year an absolute bastard for most booksellers). There are also problems that have been affecting the industry for ages, but which the aforementioned changes to T&T have only now begun to highlight. One of these problems is that - as mentioned by Rob, and a host of others over the past few months, from both sides of the fence - books *are* generally much more expensive in Australia than elsewhere (and there are reasons for this - some valid, others less so - such as market size, standard pricing of goods and services, etc); thus, if cheaper alternatives are offered to customers, booksellers, or anyone else involved in the industry, why the heck *wouldn't* they take advantage.

Here's the thing, though; lifting the PIR was touted as a means to solve this specific problem. Fair enough. Except that it almost certainly would not have worked. ( Moar... lots moar... we cut because we care )

Hope this has been of interest to someone.

Cheers,
Chuck

( Lyrics )