The final installment in the Harry Potter series is near (much to the dismay of its profiting publisher), and the release date for lucky No. 7 is fast approaching. Meanwhile, Amazon.com is marking the occasion by running a contest called “The Harry-est Town in America.” Whichever town pre-orders the most copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will receive a $5,000 Amazon gift certificate, to be directed by the winner to a local charity. The numbers are calculated on a per capita basis using the latest census, and a city must have a population of more than 5,000 to qualify.
So far, Amazon has kept a running list of the Top 100 Potter-loving towns. As of last week, Northern Virginia was leading the pack, with Falls Church, Fairfax, and Vienna nabbing the first, third, and fourth spots. Also in heavy rotation is Washington state, with Gig Harbor, Issaquah, Snohomish, and Woodinville snatching slots in the Top 10. The New York metropolitan region is conspicuously absent (maybe we’re all still slogging through the latest Pynchon?), although the suburbs represent with Great Neck, Scarsdale, and Bronxville.
What city will be the Potter-est of them all? Guess we’ll have to wait until the release deadline of 11:59 PM PDT on July 15, 2007, to find out — although by then, everyone will be busy reading the actual book.
(Hat tip: Kevin)
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What an odd contest. It’s not like you really have to incent people to buy Harry Potter, especially the last one in the series.
And who is the “winner” if the entire city wins? How do you decide on a charity?
I really don’t see the point. Why not donate books to the local schools or something that is relevant?
On another note, why is Virginia so prominent in the contest? Widespread adoption of internet shopping? Poor local bookstores?
What an odd contest. It’s not like you really have to incent people to buy Harry Potter, especially the last one in the series.
And who is the “winner” if the entire city wins? How do you decide on a charity?
I really don’t see the point. Why not donate books to the local schools or something that is relevant?
On another note, why is Virginia so prominent in the contest? Widespread adoption of internet shopping? Poor local bookstores?
I live in the Virgina area (Arlington) and can tell you why. This contest should be called ‘gift certificate to city with high children, and parental education/wealth per capita’ Vienna, Fairfax and Falls Church are the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC where people with kids move.
I live in the Virgina area (Arlington) and can tell you why. This contest should be called ‘gift certificate to city with high children, and parental education/wealth per capita’ Vienna, Fairfax and Falls Church are the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC where people with kids move.
I wonder if Amazon is doing this because their orders are not meeting expectations. I imagine there’s a large number of Potter fans who will be spending July 15/16 at local bookstores that will be having a Potter-themed evening. I’m 31 years old and I know that’s how I’ll be spending that night.
The bookstore that I’m going to for my book is actually getting the street they’re on to close down and “become” Diagon Alley. The local bank will “become” Gringotts. The clothing store will “become” Madam Malkin’s. The bookstore will “become” Flourish & Blotts. And on and on and on.
Otherwise, why would Amazon need an incentive for an obvious bestseller?
I wonder if Amazon is doing this because their orders are not meeting expectations. I imagine there’s a large number of Potter fans who will be spending July 15/16 at local bookstores that will be having a Potter-themed evening. I’m 31 years old and I know that’s how I’ll be spending that night.
The bookstore that I’m going to for my book is actually getting the street they’re on to close down and “become” Diagon Alley. The local bank will “become” Gringotts. The clothing store will “become” Madam Malkin’s. The bookstore will “become” Flourish & Blotts. And on and on and on.
Otherwise, why would Amazon need an incentive for an obvious bestseller?
Right now, I’m putting together my paper work for my “Send furiousBall to the Bahamas” charity and encouraging my neighbors to order. For those of you that doubt the need, do you know that I have never been the Bahamas? Never I tell you.
Right now, I’m putting together my paper work for my “Send furiousBall to the Bahamas” charity and encouraging my neighbors to order. For those of you that doubt the need, do you know that I have never been the Bahamas? Never I tell you.