No offense is intended here but, sheesh, first the Walmart in Quebec let's out OoTPs before the release date in 2003 and now the BC bookstore let's out HBP early?? What's the deal? I mean, I live in KENTUCKY -- and we haven't let any out early . . .

Well, just as long as no one comes here posting spoilers, I guess all the rest of us can do is just say 'lucky them' and let's just hope they don't accidentally let something slip that will land them in a courtroom come the 16th....

Personally, I don't get it either....I used to work in a store where we had to be so careful that we didn't sell CD's, DVD's and video games before the release dates that it was unreal....and I'm pretty sure we weren't allowed to sell those by law either.

I don't understand how they could let something like that happen, but then again, I rang my local Tesco tonight (it's a supermarket in the UK) and she hadn't even heard of it... Seems it's not a big deal for some people....

'Harry Potter and the Half-Bud Twins?' the clueless checkout girl said to me..... I nearly wet myself, I tell you....

I mean, of course I appreciate that this isn't a big deal for those people who aren't fans, but come on...surely everyone has at least *heard* of HP by now?!!! Maybe she's been vacationing on Mars recently or something...

There's something that bothered me about that drugstore that sold HBP early, it says that a nine years old boy bought it, but what was a 9 years old kid doing in a drugs store?
And why did he return the book?

Well what I dont get is how on Earth could you have possibly missed the huuuge and numerous "Do Not Open Until July 16th" warning signs everywhere on the boxes in the first place ... i mean what is it, "oooh, look, it says dont open until then... hmm they couldnt possibly mean it... must be a printing mistake ". As Hermione would say, honestly....

I totally agree with you Sirius_Obsessed. It's impossible not noticing that sign. That must have been a way to let people know that the drug store has the book, so probably people living in that city will buy it there. If it was me I'd read it before returning it.

heh heh...me too... Maybe that kid (or more likely his parents) just wanted the publicity....I bet they got paid for that story...

I wouldn't take it back for a signature and a plate either! They'd have to offer me a *heck* of a lot more than that...and I'm talking cold hard cash before I'd even consider it...

Anyone else have a very hard time believing that kid never read it?

BTW...McClagan, that image in your sig is a little on the large side...we have asked people to check to make sure that they're signatures aren't longer than they are wide...

Could you either shrink it down to 400 across by 150 down please or change it for something else?

Thanks.

He took the book back just for a plate and a signature?! My gosh, that's crazy. And he never read it once he had it?

I haven't really been keeping up on the news, but if this incident happened this month, I can't understand why. There are only a few more days to wait. Why can't people exercise a little more patience?

I instant messaged a link to the story about the kid in NY to my husband and he wrote back: "Sylum Mastropaolo [the kid's name], now that name sounds like it came from Harry Potter". . . hahahahaha! I agree -- and I think it's ridiculous that anyone who has read the books before could NOT know that the books aren't supposed to be sold until July 16. . . d'oh!

i read somewhere where the kid said he opened up to the middle and read maybe two pages...he didnt want to start at the begining to ruin it...is it just me or is the middle a little more suspenseful than the begining?...i think when they say drug store they mean like a convienent store...we have a drug mart here and they sell food and stuff like movies and cards...its just that they have a pharmacy in the back

Oh those Canadians.

It's one thing to but a copy of HBP before it comes out but leaking spoilers onto the internet???

C'mon!

HEY dont generlize us canadians....especially where it happen.
It happened about 2 to 3 hours away from where i live. Coquitlim BC.
When my mom told me was like and you couldnt atleast take me to the store and see if they were still selling it?

I was a tad disappointed when i read that news. HPB is a thing WE are ALL waiting for, and then the "waiting together" feeling is sort of shattered...

And those people are offered signed books and all... That's disgusting.

Well, it wasn't really those people's fault, it was the shop that messed it all up. But I agree with you Wall, I don't think they should get a signed copy for that. We all want a signed copy, but we don't go around buying books beforehand and returning them, now, do we??
And I agree, it's the waiting together thing that we like, it makes us fans feel closer to the others.

I don't think they got a signed book - they got a collectors signature on some plate or something like that...

Either way, I'm amazed they gave it back...

Unless Jack Bauer was there turning the thumbscrews making them give it back...

*sigh* How I love that man....

Obsessional? Me?!

In South-France there were sold copies too. Two of them were sold to two Netherlanders. They have read read half of the book, I guess. They are members of a Dutch HP-forum, where they have given the chaptertitles and the backtext... The site has made contact with Bloomsbury, who asked them not to give the information in public. Well, I don't know... They gave there books back after they had asked so.
A second chapterlist is known now, and again Bloomsbury told (I heard, I don't know) not to give it in public. Well... it's very strange!
(And no, they don't get a signed book, but there is a signed paper wich will be stick in the book.)

Did they really?! OMG!! I thought it was just Canada!! I don't think Matthew must know about that because I haven't seen anything on the main site about it...might be worth you sending that information in to him via the news links on the main site (just go up to 'Site' right at the top of the page', then down to 'send in news').

Oh crikey, that means I've spoilers to watch out for from France and the Netherlands too? *sigh*

I have sended the news.
The forums in the Netherlands are spoilerfree, mostly, because the two who read the book didn't want to give away to much. Only the chaptertitles and the back of the book, like I've already said. But after the forum where the members are from had contact with Bloomsbury (they say it happened, I don't know anything else) they had to delete all the spoilers...
How it is in France, I don't know.

Hey guys don't blame Canada for a handfull of morons, especially if you work in retail and know at least two co-workes who you could see doing this.

I read that the books fell off the truck and the box got damaged so they were re-packaged in a new box. Whoever it was forgot to write the selling date on this new box so when the bookstore got it they thought they could sell the HP books right away.

Like are you kidding me? No really, are you? How can you work in a bookstore and not know the release date of one of the most popular novels in history? Idiots! I can't believe that was their excuse -

And another three copies were saled in the Netherlands.
A friend of mine went to a shop and she could hold the new Potter book for thirty seconds, and the information about the backcover and the last two chaptertitles are the same as I already knew. I know the chaptertitles and the text on the back, I figured... The news isn't on the newspage yet, maybe something went wrong?
If a moderator or admin want to know what the spoilers are, I could sent a personal message?

And you'd think that with alllll that security, there would be no leaks and people would be more careful? There was a point when I seriously thought 'jeez, they're really going a little bit overboard with all the security'. But after news of leaks just keep rolling in constantly, I can't help but think the security should be increased... *looks exasperated*

I really feel this can't be some stupid mistake. Even if the box wasn't the original one, how can you not know when a book's release date is if you work in a book shop? And specially a book like this one, which is not precisely unknown...

Please don't take this the wrong way - I understand you point - but surely if you're working in a store like that where printed materials are written in English - and the store probably trades in English (given that it's Canada, I guess it's possibly French-speaking too, but I thought most of you guys there were pretty bi-lingual?) - then wouldn't it pretty much be expected for you to be able to understand what's written on the boxes?

By 'you' I mean the group 'you', by the way...not you personally, chero....

Totally agree, Louise. This is just so unbelievable. They probably just wanted to make it to the news and get famous or something. IKf it's not that, then I still don't understand how this can possibly have happened, and not only in one place but three at least! It's outrageous, really. It simply makes me feel that they're breaking the pre-release time which makes fans come closer together.

being Canadian I am almost ashamed...that someone could make a mistake this big..I mean HP is very well known here...its embarrasing...it made me SLIGHTLY less ashamed when I newsstand in Ney York City sold one too...but it is still no excuse...geez..
Oh and Louise not many people are Bilingual unless you live out east (NewBrunswick, Nova Scotia) or in Upper Ontario, or Quebec..for the most part we only know very basic french..just enough to get us through...but before people start going crazy...of COURSE there are people not in these areas that do speak french

Pigwidigon has hit it bang on: The vast majority of canadians speak English, with Quebec being predominantly French, along with parts of Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba etc... But most people actually only speak one or the other (certainly true in Quebec, where I happen to live...)

It was pretty embarassing to hear about the HBP case. You'd have thought they'd know better... I mean, if my Mom (who is 62 and only speaks French) knew that the release date for HBP was 16 July (granted she's a huge fan...), then everyone should. Especially since the release was the most anticipated ever!

Oh well...

Cheers!

its not embarassing. its just a mistake!its a nine year old boy! and in anticipation leaks happen. get over it!people SHOULDN'T be blaming canada for this especially when it happened in other places too. as long as its not spoiled for you, why should it be such a big deal if 5 people out of millions read some of the book!

There is NOTHING wrong with canadians and i am offended that people would say something like that at all!!!!!!!

Hehe a true classic, a day late and a dollar short!

I should not reply to this since it is a yearish old from the second to last reply and the last reply, but I just could not help myself. It is just so funny, to be outraged at such an old story, to me anyway . Sorry true classic, if my humor upsets you! I would end this with Blame Canada, but you might take it to heart!

HP_ATrueClassic - could you please moderate your tone a little. I appreciate you're upset, but this story is a year old, as are the comments accompanying them and so your anger is rather moot now.

And for the record, Omerus is Canadian himself.

I'm going to lock this now because it's pointless the discussions continuing as the story is now over.

Doubtless we'll be seeing similar stories in the future