Sears tries to get own piece of book price wars

NEW YORK — Sears Holdings is becoming the latest retailer to throw itself in the heated price war on books expected to be top sellers. But the merchant's promotion has a twist.

The company, which operates Sears and Kmart, says it will reward customers who buy a book from its list of ten highly anticipated book hits on Sears.com, Walmart.com, Target.com or Amazon.com with an online credit equal to the purchase price – up to $9.

That can be used toward a purchase of $45 or more on Sears.com.

Customers need to e-mail their receipt to Sears. But the move seems almost to direct customers to Amazon.com or Walmart.com, since both are selling the expected bestsellers for about $9. Sears' prices are higher. Dean R. Koontz's "Breathless," for example, costs $17.98.