By the Book STRATEGIES OF THE ONLINE PLAYERS DISTRIBUTORS INGRAM BOOK GROUP Far and away the leading supplier to online retailers. Though it recently dropped plans to handle Web site maintenance and order-taking for clients, it will soon begin shipping direct to consumers in the retailer's name. BAKER & TAYLOR BOOKS Usually eats Ingram's dust, but the No. 2 wholesaler may beat its arch-rival in introducing direct-to-consumer shipping. RETAILERS BARNES & NOBLE Operates its own giant distribution system, giving it a cost advantage over other online booksellers. AMAZON Plans to reduce its dependence on Ingram by increasing warehouse capacity. It will boost its book inventories a hundredfold, while continuing to use both Ingram and Baker & Taylor to ship to its customers. Return to main story

Updated Oct. 16, 1997 by bwwebmaster
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