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Hachette's decision to move to the agency model has won the support of literary agents, even though for the last five days Hachette e-books have not been available on the websites of leading booksellers such as Waterstone's, Foyles, and The Book Depository. But retailers have questioned the decision to allow Amazon.co.uk to carry on selling e-books on non-agency terms.
Hachette’s implementation of agency pricing, which it said is a bid to create a level playing field for digital bookselling, has led the majority of UK retailers to remove its e-books from sale for now. The publisher became the first to switch its e-book trading terms fully onto the agency model this week, under which prices are set by Hachette.
Amazon was the only retailer, except for Apple which already uses the agency model, to sell Hachette e-books this week, but was continuing to set its own prices. This has led to criticism from retailers that Amazon effectively has a clear run at maximising sales pre-Christmas, as it is the only retailer that can undercut Hachette’s terms.
Most retailers declined to comment publicly on when, or if, they expected to adopt Hachette’s agency terms. Waterstone’s said: “It’s a commercial discussion between us and Hachette and there is no more detail to give.” Rachel Russell, business unit director at W H Smith, said: “I’m unable to make a comment as Hachette’s position remains unclear at this stage.” Kieron Smith, managing director of the Book Depository,- did not support Hachette. "We are not being straight with the customer. Unless I can control a customer’s experience, selling e-books with the price set by the publisher is not something I want to do."
While Foyles also removed Hachette titles from its website, its c.e.o. Sam Husain backed the publisher. He said: "If anything it will hopefully stabilise the market so that you don’t get the Amazons of this world then discounting e-books and again making a nonsense of the price."
Hachette declined to comment on Amazon continuing to set its own e-book prices or when it expected other retailers to switch to Hachette pricing.
Meanwhile, the move has been welcomed by agents. Simon Trewin, head of books at United Agents, said: “There is a clarity to an agency model which I applaud, as anything that takes power back from retailers and puts it with publishers is a good thing—as long as the author is properly rewarded.”
Clare Alexander, joint m.d. of Aitken Alexander, said: “It is quite paradoxical that publishers who not so very long ago were arguing we should have no control over price in the print world are the same people who are arguing that publishers should have it in the digital world.” She added: “The agency model seems like a wise move. I’m absolutely in support of publishers trying to do this, but there is a worry over whether it will be sustainable long term.”
Hachette’s move is likely to be followed by the other publishers who have signed up to selling books through Apple. However, neither HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan, Penguin, Canongate nor Simon & Schuster would comment.