| The last installment in the Potter saga has hit the shelves. Fans around the world stand in line to discover who lives and who dies.
Final Harry Potter Book Goes on Sale The final book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, went on sale today. The book was launched simultaneously across the world.
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The line at Whitcoulls bookstore in the Northlands Mall, Christchurch,
New Zealand. New Zealand fans of the series had a launch time of 11.01 AM. Due to high competition among major retail chains, the book was being sold for as little as NZ$32.99 at Whitcoulls; a profit margin of four cents for each book sold. The recommended retail price is NZ$55.00. As a publicity stunt, many supermarkets in the UK cut prices even further, with one chain selling copies at a loss, at about 1/4 of the recommended retail price.
In Australia, Potter fans were able to begin purchasing copies of the book at 9.01 AM. A Sydney Borders store had a line reaching halfway across the street. In New Zealand's capital, Wellington, about 150 fans were waiting outside a Borders bookstore. At the same time Dymocks, a nearby bookstore, had an estimated crowd of 100 people waiting to be one of the first with the new tome. In Germany, however, some bookshops were disappointed with the turnout for the Harry Potter book launch events.
In the UK the book went on sale at midnight. Fans in one central London bookshop started joining the queue at 10:30 PM, which soon reached the door of the shop and out onto the street. The book chain Waterstones held Harry Potter parties, passing out free glasses of wine and snacks. The mood was said to be "good-natured and jolly," with some fans dressed up in costume. At one New Zealand Whitcoulls store supplied an entertainer/magician to keep fans entertained while waiting for the 11.01 AM sell time.
The Harry Potter series has already sold 325 million copies worldwide.
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