Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Book Depository confirms local supply

Amazon-owned online bookseller the Book Depository has confirmed it has set up local supply of Australian titles, with packing and distribution from Melbourne-based logistics company DAI Post.

In a statement, the company said it will add over 25,000 books by Australian authors for purchase by local and international consumers, although it’s unclear whether this figure includes local editions of books previously available on the site.

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, the Book Depository began dispatching books distributed by United Book Distributors from a Victoria-based location last year and has since added titles from Woodslane, Dennis Jones, Scholastic and Bonnier Publishing.

Dymocks MD Steve Cox told the Australian Financial Review that the Book Depository’s move into the Australian market while parallel importation restrictions are still in force are ‘another example of the fact that the market has abnormal restrictions’. ‘An international player can buy directly here whereas Australian retailers can’t source supply from overseas. Either you believe in a free and open market or you don’t,’ said Cox.

Booktopia CEO Tony Nash, who pre-empted Book Depository’s announcement in a recent interview with Fairfax, questioned whether Australian publishers and distributors will jeopardise local booksellers by forming relationships with the Book Depository.

‘Even though this news may come with great fanfare, the actual physical presence will still only be conducted through a third party distribution centre,’ Nash added.

Nash and Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) president Joel Becker have also questioned whether the Book Depository will have to pay GST on all Australian purchases. Currently, the 10% tax is only applied to locally supplied titles.

The Book Depository did not respond to Books+Publishing’s request for comment.

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, the Book Depository has been in talks with a number of Australian publishers since November 2014 to set up a direct supply of local titles. The ABA expressed ‘great concern’ over the plans.

 

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Category: Local news