B&N Cancels Order for Chelsea Green’s Obama Book

By Lynn Andriani -- Publishers Weekly, 8/18/2008 2:35:00 PM

Barnes & Noble has cancelled its 10,000-copy order of Obama’s Challenge, a book by Robert Kuttner that Chelsea Green is making available early exclusively through Amazon.com. Chelsea Green president and publisher Margo Baldwin said the chain will make the book available on BN.com and will special order it, but that it will not stock it in its stores. “In effect, they have made a decision to boycott this book in order to punish Chelsea Green,” said Baldwin. B&N's decision follows in the wake of independent booksellers' outrage over the book being sold early exclusively through Amazon.com. B&N spokesperson Mary Ellen Keating said Chelsea Green's move "effectively takes away sales from all booksellers in the period when the predominate sales of such media related titles typically occur. Our initial order was based on the book being available to all booksellers simultaneously—an even playing field—which is common practice in book publishing." She continued, "We agree with Margo Baldwin's statement that 'a little perspective is in order' but believe the appropriate perspective is for the publisher to show appreciation to the bookselling community that has supported Chelsea Green for many years. To couch their action as a bold political move is a red herring for unfair business practices."

Borders, however, is keeping its order. Spokesperson Anne Roman told PW, “We are keeping with our original buy and marketing plans for this title. It is an important book that will be sought after by our customers as the election heats up in October and we want to meet their needs.”