Laura Chesters



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AbeBooks had planned to pull out of countries including Czech Republic, Hungary, South Korea and Russia.

However, following a boycott of the site by more than 500 dealers which saw more than 3.5m books temporarily removed from the site, the Amazon-owned web portal has scrapped its decision.

During a meeting with the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) today it has agreed to reverse the decision.

In an email to members, ILAB president Sally Burdon said: “AbeBooks CEO Arkady Vitrouk has apologised for the behaviour of AbeBooks in announcing that they would withdraw their services to our colleagues in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia and South Korea.

Assurance

“He then went on to absolutely assure us that none of the booksellers, neither ILAB members or others will have to stop trading on Abe. They will now also continue to allow the booksellers in other countries, Poland for example, where there is no ILAB-affiliated association, to trade as well.”

Burdon and ILAB vice president Fabrizio Govi with ILAB executive secretary Angelika Elstner met with CEO of AbeBooks Arkady Vitrouk and colleague Udo Göllman today and have released the news of the u-turn following the meeting.

Burdon added: “The root of the problem is Abe's enforced shift to a new payment system as their current payment system closes at the end of the year.”

ILAB thanked “everyone who participated in this extraordinary and unprecedented protest... without the protests and the media attention I know we would not have so easily got this excellent outcome.”

It is now expected bookdealers will return to selling on the site.

An AbeBooks spokesman said: “These sellers are an important part of our community and we are putting together a solution that will allow them to continue selling through AbeBooks. We are working directly with many of these sellers on the details and have appreciated their collaboration."