Re:What are you talking about? (Score 1)

You obviously do not know about Harry Potter. First, while it is stocked in the children's section and said to be a children's book, adults and children alike read this book. Second, Rowling herself has "cub reporters" lined up in Edinburgh to read the book in its entirety this weekend, so these young children will be reading the book in fewer than 2 days time. Third, Rowling also says this is not just a children's book. Fourth, I personally will read this book in its entirety on Saturday, as will most other Harry Potter fans. I know your response was about the profits of the stores, but you are missing the point. Yes Rowling and her team are managing the hype for her book, and kudos to her for that. But the true fans out there have fallen in love with the characters and the story and really do want to know what has happened next. The readers who got those 15 pre-sales, if they kept the books and read them, would know, and we all know how that news would spread, before the rest of the fans had the chance to read it as well. There is NOT much difference except in a few hours time between this book and a Star Wars movie. You can watch the movie in 2-3 hours time, but I guarantee some people will have this 700-page book read in 4-5 hours time; expect reviews by 5am Saturday, easily. And your point about power to the smart people works only in the short term--these stores would no longer be getting the books early. They might profit once, but not again, that is for sure. As above authors have posted, if stores break the deal that benefits them, then publishers will stop playing the game.