Harry Potter and the discounted book

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Published July 15, 2007

The final chapter of the J.K. Rowling series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has a list price of $34.99, but most retailers are offering a significant discount, especially for preorders or online. But some of those deals are vanishing soon. The book comes out July 21.

- Haslam's: Rather than a party, the St. Petersburg bookstore, 2025 Central Ave., is offering a steep discount of $21.75, which includes tax, and not just for preorders. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (727) 822-8616.

- Amazon.com is offering the book at $17.99, but you have to order by noon Tuesday to guarantee delivery on July 21.

- Preorders: Walmart.com is offering the book on preorder for $17.87 with 97-cent shipping. Barnes and Noble has it for $20.99 for preorders, a deal that ends Monday, with the online members price of $18.89. Borders and other bookstores also have similar deals with midnight pickups at their Harry Potter parties.

- Discount stores: Big-box wholesalers like Costco and Sam's Club, as well as Wal-Mart and drugstore chains, are offering lower prices, in the $20 range, using the book as a loss leader to draw in customers.

- Book stores: If you don't preorder for savings, Barnes & Noble, Borders and other bookstores have typically discounted the book by 40 percent.

[Last modified July 14, 2007, 23:36:34]