Letters, faxes, and e-mail

/Cut/1.9/cDIANNE POWELL/Correspondent

A white crane rests in the wetlands of the Mobile Delta. A map known as the "Big Delta Guide" helps boaters find their way through the vast delta.

Good to see readers

support businesses

I would like to thank the Press-Register and its readers for including my bookstore in the newspaper's "Readers' Choice Awards" section.

It was heartening to see so many local businesses receiving votes. We feel that the Press-Register's readers are recognizing that money spent with local businesses stays within the community instead of paying franchise fees to national chains.

However, I would like to alert people to a recent problem. The American Booksellers Association has sent a letter to the Department of Justice concerning book sales by Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon.com.

These retailers, both online and in their stores, are selling best-selling novels at a steep discount, losing money on every sale in order to lure customers into buying more from them.

The ABA is protesting this predatory pricing as an attempt to drive hundreds of independent bookstores out of business.

I hope people will think twice before buying new novels for cheap from these sources. Remember, if they can sell books below cost, other items and other stores will be next.

CONTINUED 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Next