Foreign publishers seem more generous than their Indian counterparts in offering discounts on books at the ongoing World Book Fair. While most Indian publishers are sticking to the National Book Trust of India (NBT) guidelines of a set 10 per cent discount, foreign stalls (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indian Labour Organisation (ILO), Switzerland, UNESCO, France and Germany) are offering upto 50 per cent discounts.
"Most of the foreign publishers want to sell their books as soon as possible. That’s why they are offering higher discounts," informs Zafar Ahmed, the attendant at the Oxford University Press (OUP), Pakistan stall. "Foreign stalls are offering rebates but we can’t deviate from the NBT directives (that is 10 per cent discount)," informs Sulakshna Sharma, an attendant at the OUP India stall.
The attendants at the Sri Lankan stall inform that with foreign books being expensive, it is imperative that they lower the cost of books to boost sales. A book on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which is originally priced at Rs 900, can be purchased for Rs 400 at the Sri Lankan stall. At the ILO stall a book on European history, originally priced at 44 Swiss francs (worth about Rs 4,400), is being sold for Rs 1,800. "It involves a currency exchange discount of 50 per cent plus an additional discount of 20 per cent on any purchase," informs the attendant at the stall.
The German stall attendants say that since they are targeting students, they have increased the discount upto 35 per cent for their books. When questioned about the disparities in the discounts offered by Indian and foreign publishers, the NBT officials said that it is mandatory for every participant to follow the set rate of discount. But some tend to deviate from it. "As it concerns a violation by foreign participants, we’ll check it," said one of the NBT officials. The NBT is not offering any discounts to students this year but they are allowed free entry to the fair by showing their identity cards.
"Most of the foreign publishers want to sell their books as soon as possible. That’s why they are offering higher discounts," informs Zafar Ahmed, the attendant at the Oxford University Press (OUP), Pakistan stall. "Foreign stalls are offering rebates but we can’t deviate from the NBT directives (that is 10 per cent discount)," informs Sulakshna Sharma, an attendant at the OUP India stall.
The attendants at the Sri Lankan stall inform that with foreign books being expensive, it is imperative that they lower the cost of books to boost sales. A book on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which is originally priced at Rs 900, can be purchased for Rs 400 at the Sri Lankan stall. At the ILO stall a book on European history, originally priced at 44 Swiss francs (worth about Rs 4,400), is being sold for Rs 1,800. "It involves a currency exchange discount of 50 per cent plus an additional discount of 20 per cent on any purchase," informs the attendant at the stall.
The German stall attendants say that since they are targeting students, they have increased the discount upto 35 per cent for their books. When questioned about the disparities in the discounts offered by Indian and foreign publishers, the NBT officials said that it is mandatory for every participant to follow the set rate of discount. But some tend to deviate from it. "As it concerns a violation by foreign participants, we’ll check it," said one of the NBT officials. The NBT is not offering any discounts to students this year but they are allowed free entry to the fair by showing their identity cards.