Online Book Sites Hurting Indies

Staff -- Library Journal, 1/4/1999

While the advent of online booksellers Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com have transfused much needed dollars into the book industry, several small independent booksellers nonetheless have emerged as casualties of the country's newfound Internet-shopping frenzy. The San Francisco Chronicle reports, December 26, that Printers, Inc. a Palo Alto, CA-based mecca for bibliophiles is closing shop after 20 years "because it cannot compete with online booksellers." The report quotes store owner Gerry Mastseller as saying that many shoppers who failed to find a particular book told him they'd get it from Amazon.com rather than order it from him. Other independent California booksellers report that customers are identifying the titles of books they want by browsing in their bookstores and then ordering them over the web to take advantage of online discounts.