Booksellers slash prices as fair winds down

Booksellers yesterday offered deeper discounts in a last attempt to boost sales and clear stock before the week-long Book Fair ends tonight.

Many exhibitors offered additional savings to customers if they bought more books.

Swindon Book Co, which was already touting 30 per cent discounts, was cutting prices a further 5 per cent if shoppers bought four titles. Elmbook gave a 37 per cent discount for buying five books.

Publishers Marketing, an English bookseller, was offering Slumdog Millionaire at half-price (HK$38), down from the 30 per cent discount it was offering earlier. The booth's bestseller, Twilight, was selling for HK$50, about half-price.

Pak Nga Publication's exercise books for primary students went from HK$40 to HK$10, with a free title thrown in for every 10 that patrons bought. A spokesman said the company was offering the discount to reduce costs when it moved stock later.

Wan Li Book Co said it would add to its HK$10 offerings.

Taiwanese exhibitors, who had been complaining about a poor location at the fair, generally said there would not be a large-scale sale on the fair's last day.