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The Society of Authors (SoA) and the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG) have become the latest writers' groups to hit out at W H Smith's exclusive deal with Penguin, as rival travel publishers say they are bracing themselves for a "whopping great returns" list. The Bookseller revealed last week that W H Smith would only sell Penguin foreign travel guides from its travel oulets.
The SoA said it had been assured just last month by representatives W H SMith Travel, led by Craig Hillier (trading controller – books), that the "range of books offered by WHS Travel, although much smaller than in WHS's main shops, would be considerable". The SoA, whose chair Margaret Drabble had raised concerns about WHS taking over all the bookshop contracts at BAA's airports, said it had asked WHS for its comments about this latest deal and was awaiting a response.
The OWPG has already one a step further, and has written to the Office of Fair Trading to express the Guild's concern. Chris Bagshaw, chairman, said he believed that the agreement was an 'Abuse of Dominant Position' under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998. The letter said: "In restricting their sales in this way, we feel that both parties are acting in an anti-competitive manner, but it is WH Smith, who because of their effective monopoly of retail outlets in a travel context, are abusing their dominant position. We urge the OFT to look into this and would be grateful if you could let us know whether you feel this action would be appropriate."
Rival publishers remain dismayed by WHS' decision. Ian Murray, head of Michelin maps and guides UK, said that W H Smith Travel had not even been in contact. He added: "I understand that there is a big questionmark over returns at the moment. No dialogue and no consideration has been made for any other publishers." Murray branded the strategy "bizarre" and said he hoped "common sense would prevail".
Another travel publisher, who declined to be named, said that "tens of thousands" of pounds of its own stock alone was held by WHS. He warned that other publishers were expecting very large returns early next week.
Bradt m.d. Donald Greig said that the move was "anti-competitive" and said that WHS Travel was "dumbing down" its book selection. He said: "Lack of choice is never a good thing. In airport stores it seems daft—absolutely mad, especially as it limits the choice. Overall, not a good deal and I’m very happy to lend my name to anything which says this is not a good move." Peter Fiennes, m.d. of Time Out Guides, said: "I think someone should take a look at it urgently. The BAA [the airports’ operator] should sit up and take notice."
Last week Travel Writers' Guild chair Melissa Shales called for a boycott of Penguin's guides and WHS after she learned about the deal from The Bookseller. Shales argued that the WHS/Penguin deal could damage rival publishers. WHS said it was better for its "time-pressed" customers as it would make travel guide shopping "easier". Penguin has not commented.