WH Smith guidebook row grows
15th June 2009
A major row has broken out over WH Smith’s decision to only stock guidebooks published by Penguin in its airport and railway station shops.
The decision means 268 of its Travel shops will only stock Rough Guide, Sawday and Dorling Kindersley guidebooks.
This exclusivity deal between WH Smith and Penguin follows WH Smith signing a deal with BAA that means it’s the only bookseller in BAA’s airports.
The Office of Fair Trading is now set to look into the WH Smith/Penguin deal after a storm of protest from the likes of Michael Palin and Margaret Drabble.
“If this is indeed their policy, I certainly wouldn't go to Smith’s before my next journey,” Palin commented.
Donald Greig, Managing Director of independent guidebook publisher Bradt, told us: “It’s an anti-competitive move that’s not in consumers’ interests. Particularly as we at Bradt have titles on destinations that no one else publishes. It’s also a monopoly within a monopoly because of their exclusivity deal with BAA.”
The British Guild Of Travel Writers has called for a boycott of WH Smith stores.
In a statement, WH Smith said the decision to reduce the guidebook range in its Travel shops was taken because rail and air travellers “are often pressed for time and want to have a straightforward range of travel guides to choose from”.
>>What do you think of WH Smith's decision? Have your say on our community website goWander.com here
>>Want more guidebook choice for less money? Borders is currently offering 25% off a range of guidebooks and other travel books here
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