In a separate statement, Alibris announced that it is adding a new "search-by-seller" feature to its site. It enables buyers, once they place a book in their "cart," to search that particular dealer's inventory for more titles. This allows buyers to combine books from a single seller for cheaper shipping. We don't see this as a momentous development, although Mr. Kohn reported that Alibris has seen an increase in multi-book orders since the feature went live a few days earlier. However, it does represent a very slight shift in the vexing issue of dealer identification and direct dealer contact.

This, of course, is the issue whether to allow buyers to contact the sellers directly. Direct contact enables dealers to better sell their books, particularly when it comes to more valuable titles. However, it also enables buyers and sellers to go around the selling site, depriving it of its earned commission.

Alibris has frequently been thought of as a site that does not facilitate direct contact between buyers and sellers. Whereas Abebooks has more prominently displayed the individual dealer's name, on Alibris, the feel has been more that you buy from Alibris. However, Kohn pointed out that even while dealer names are not "prominently" displayed on their site, the information can still be found. In the future, he added, Alibris will be increasing visibility of individual dealers.

Asked whether Alibris was concerned that increased visibility would result in more evasion of commissions, Kohn responded, "We're not overly concerned about buyers circumventing the site and going direct to the seller. What is not well known is that we allow buyers to email sellers directly today. It's not prominently shown until you get to a specific book from an individual seller. However, in the last year 100,000 customers contacted an Alibris seller in this manner. Clearly, the dialog between buyer and seller sometimes results in an off-site transaction. While we'll be giving sellers more and more prominence in the course of the next year, we believe that buyers will continue to come to Alibris for their book buying needs."