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Potter supermarket row resolved | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Asda has ended a dispute with a publishing company which had threatened to keep the new Harry Potter book off the supermarket chain's shelves. | |
It has sent a payment to Bloomsbury, which had earlier cancelled a delivery of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, claiming Asda owed it money. | |
Asda had already accused Bloomsbury of "attempting to hold children to ransom" with a recommended price of £17.99. | |
But the publisher denied that this statement had been a factor in the row. | |
Instead, Bloomsbury insisted that Asda had refused to settle its bills "for weeks". | |
Earlier, Asda spokesman Ed Watson told BBC Radio Five Live that the chain's criticisms of Bloomsbury's pricing policy were behind the dispute. | |
He added: "It just seems funny that after we expose the potty Potter price hike, Bloomsbury are trying everything they can to stop kids getting hold of Harry Potter at a price they can afford." | He added: "It just seems funny that after we expose the potty Potter price hike, Bloomsbury are trying everything they can to stop kids getting hold of Harry Potter at a price they can afford." |
But Bloomsbury had maintained that "at 608 pages, £17.99 is extremely good value". | |
Now that the issue has been resolved, however, Asda has said: "We have an agreement with Bloomsbury to supply us with books to sell on Saturday morning." | |
The release date for the book was announced on JK Rowling's websiteMany bookshops are planning to open at midnight on Friday evening to satisfy demand for the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will bring to an end JK Rowling's tales of a teenage wizard's adventures. | |
Meanwhile, the Royal Mail has issued commemorative stamps to celebrate the young wizard's success. | Meanwhile, the Royal Mail has issued commemorative stamps to celebrate the young wizard's success. |
There are seven first-class stamps, each featuring the sleeve artwork from a different Harry Potter book. | |
And there is also a separate sheet with five stamps featuring the crests of Hogwarts School and its four houses - Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. | And there is also a separate sheet with five stamps featuring the crests of Hogwarts School and its four houses - Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. |
The Royal Mail said the stamps have "some heat-resistant ink that will reveal exciting secrets if you touch them". | The Royal Mail said the stamps have "some heat-resistant ink that will reveal exciting secrets if you touch them". |