Deseret Book
Deseret Book is a publisher and chain of bookstores owned and operated for-profit by the LDS Church (see an article I wrote for Wikipedia back when I cared for Wikipedia).
Recently they announced they would no longer sell product to a competing bookstore, Seagull Book and Tapes. The more I read about this decision the more it boils my blood that a church-owned business would behave in such a non-Christian manner.From the Trib:
But effective at the end of the month, Deseret Book said it will stop supplying its line of books to Seagull - even though it ultimately means that Deseret Book will sell fewer books by LDS leaders such as Gordon B. Hinckley. The decision stems from how Seagull has handled Deseret Book's titles, said Jeff Simpson, executive vice president of Deseret Book.
"We have a difference in view in how we market, merchandise and promote the Deseret Book product," he said. "As a premier brand, we provide all sorts of merchandising and marketing opportunities, such as posters and displays. They don't and haven't taken advantage of those (opportunities)."
[...]
Asked why Deseret Book has not cut off other retailers such as Costco, Smith's, Border's and Wal-Mart, some of which do little promotion of their books, Simpson of Deseret Book reiterated that the company made "a business decision based on what we would like to see done with our product." He said the company has discontinued supply to other retailers but declined to elaborate.
Did anyone tell Mr. Simpson that God hates lies? Seagull doesn't promote Mormon title enough, but Wal-Mart does? Good God-they're wrecking a man's business because they want to be the only Mormon bookstore.
An attorney in this article said there's little hope for an anti-trust case because Deseret Book does not have a monopoly. I vehemently disagree.
Deseret Book has a monopoly on Mormon prophets and general authorities. When Mormons want to read the words of men who supposedly talk to God, there is one and only one publisher that prints them. Without books written by the Gordon B. Hinckley et al, I doubt Seagull can survive. If I were already an attorney, I would offer my services to Seagull Book pro bono. It's a damn outrage-another LDS unit behaving shamefully.
Recently they announced they would no longer sell product to a competing bookstore, Seagull Book and Tapes. The more I read about this decision the more it boils my blood that a church-owned business would behave in such a non-Christian manner.From the Trib:
But effective at the end of the month, Deseret Book said it will stop supplying its line of books to Seagull - even though it ultimately means that Deseret Book will sell fewer books by LDS leaders such as Gordon B. Hinckley. The decision stems from how Seagull has handled Deseret Book's titles, said Jeff Simpson, executive vice president of Deseret Book.
"We have a difference in view in how we market, merchandise and promote the Deseret Book product," he said. "As a premier brand, we provide all sorts of merchandising and marketing opportunities, such as posters and displays. They don't and haven't taken advantage of those (opportunities)."
[...]
Asked why Deseret Book has not cut off other retailers such as Costco, Smith's, Border's and Wal-Mart, some of which do little promotion of their books, Simpson of Deseret Book reiterated that the company made "a business decision based on what we would like to see done with our product." He said the company has discontinued supply to other retailers but declined to elaborate.
Did anyone tell Mr. Simpson that God hates lies? Seagull doesn't promote Mormon title enough, but Wal-Mart does? Good God-they're wrecking a man's business because they want to be the only Mormon bookstore.
An attorney in this article said there's little hope for an anti-trust case because Deseret Book does not have a monopoly. I vehemently disagree.
Deseret Book has a monopoly on Mormon prophets and general authorities. When Mormons want to read the words of men who supposedly talk to God, there is one and only one publisher that prints them. Without books written by the Gordon B. Hinckley et al, I doubt Seagull can survive. If I were already an attorney, I would offer my services to Seagull Book pro bono. It's a damn outrage-another LDS unit behaving shamefully.