"Alexander Mamut has reportedly made a £43m offer for Waterstone's, as a 5pm deadline looms for bidders."

Wish you could get your stories straight!
If Mamut offered £43m over the w/e, how could it be reported last week?
Is the deadline for other interested parties 2 weeks from now, or as previously reported, last Friday at 5pm?

Well, there's not many 2 week extensions left until the beginning of July. They'd better get a move on!

ps
Did HMV save much money by sacking their PR department?

Sad..I closed my shop ,the Regent Bookshop in 2005. The trade was getting stupid when I was forced to buy Harry Potter at Safeways instead of Bloomsbury because it was cheaper there than wholesale.
I never really had an issue with Waterstones but I found it unfathamable that individually managers were stifled by central buying.
The face of the chain could have been so different if each store had been allowed to form its own local identity, the unacceptable face of the conglomerate prevailed ,however, and the result will be that the demise of the chain should it happen will not be missed.

I wish all you real Booksellers caught in the misery all the best of luck and maybe..maybe someone who loves books will end up at the helm,..Somehow I doubt it.

My partner works for W. and it is true that at the moment if you do not sell certain items or mention about the loyalty card. You are threatened to be put on a disciplinary.

It is not comming from the BM but further up the ladder. I am glad that I do not work for such a company. The company I work for actively encourage staff to look at ways of promoting the company and safe the company money by coming up with Ideas.

I can remember when James Heneage was in charged and the store was more friendly and there was no tack on the shelves. Ottakars was a book store. Now when you walk in to the store you feel an atmosphere. What does this say to potential customers.

Lets hope that the HMV board pick a buyer who will respect the staff and give them back there sense of worth.

The only recent communications from head office state that "We know nothing, everything is ok, don't panic, carry on..." and the only thing we hear from our terrible anti-human-contact email-friendly area managers are "SELL MORE LINKSAVES!"

*sigh*

If linksaves are the answer then I wonder if HMV will offer Fopp to Mumut at 50% off if he'll buy Waterstone's?

As well as the RBA, there is UNITE who I joined. Look them up. I joined in November when my (now ex) manager decided to have a screaming fit on me. The RBA are good, but I expect they have their hands full right now. Also don't forget ACAS, if anyone wants to try a make you a scapegoat in work, give them a tinkle. But, yes there is alot of pressure on waterstone's staff. Particularly when we are told that our stock is being reduced but the difference will be made up customer orders, from people who will have to order in the latest bestseller because it's not on the shelf :)