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Tesco has just spoiled the highly anticipated in-store promotions and parties in MPH, Popular and Time bookstore! If you haven’t know yet, MPH, Popular and Time bookstore has “sourly” announced they won’t be selling the final Harry Potter installment, The Deathly Hallows.

Headlined in NTV7 8.00pm news, 3 ladies crying foul at Tesco of selling the final Harry Potter installment at RM69.90, well below their price of RM109.90. Showing a unity front, they claim that they have to follow the recommended selling book price because of the handling, warehousing and promotional cost, RSP is the only way they can make decent profits as a retailer. Tesco’s action has left them with no choice but forced them of not selling the book. The message is clear, if you can’t find the book, don’t blame us, blame Tesco.

Welcome to Malaysia! This has happened before, take a look at MAS vs AirAsia. MAS has refused to service the rural air routes because it can’t compete with the low cost airline or not profitable to do so, sorry folks. In this latest fiasco, it is quite obvious that these 3 national bookstores try to rally the disappointed fan against Tesco. But what not obvious is that the real target for the news conference is the Harry Potter publisher – the message is clear, chose Tesco or us, or chose 14 Tesco outlets or us with more than 100! These 3 bookstores gang up to leverage their distribution power to force the publisher to stop supplying to Tesco. Make no mistake, this is not about friendly bookstore servicing the fans, but is about money and profits.

Unlike air services that come with mandated social responsibilities, these bookstores are entirely free to choose what to sell and what not to. But the way they see themselves as the victim and go out to vote for unsuspicious sympathy is simply too hollows and hard to swallow.

Well done Tesco. Now we hope no stupid politician turns this into a hu-ha!

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