This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/6902031.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Potter publisher halts Asda order Potter supermarket row resolved
(about 7 hours later)
The publisher of the final Harry Potter book has cancelled an order to supply 500,000 copies to Asda supermarkets. 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.
Bloomsbury said it had taken the decision because it had not been paid by the chain. 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.
But Asda claimed the publisher was unhappy that it had criticised the book's price tag of £17.99. Asda had already accused Bloomsbury of "attempting to hold children to ransom" with a recommended price of £17.99.
It has assured UK customers the issue will be resolved in time for the book launch on Saturday, although Bloomsbury said "dialogue has not opened yet". But the publisher denied that this statement had been a factor in the row.
'Very aggressive' Instead, Bloomsbury insisted that Asda had refused to settle its bills "for weeks".
Asda spokesman Ed Watson told BBC Radio Five Live the chain - owned by US giant Wal-Mart - was not aware that the deal had been cancelled, and said the chain's criticisms of Bloomsbury's pricing policy was behind the decision. 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."
Bloomsbury marketing director Minna Fry said the order had been cancelled due to "invoicing issues", but acknowledged the firm had been annoyed by Asda's comments. But Bloomsbury had maintained that "at 608 pages, £17.99 is extremely good value".
She said: "Asda have had a problem with our pricing of Harry Potter for a while now, and they sent out a very aggressive press release saying that we were ripping off children. 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."
"We think at 608 pages, £17.99 is extremely good value." 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.
Many bookshops are planning to open at midnight 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.
Special stamps
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.
One set of heat-resistant stamps has the Hogwarts School crestsThere are seven first-class stamps, each featuring the sleeve artwork from a different Harry Potter book. 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".