Amazon under scrutiny for allegedly bypassing legal obligations through complimentary book shipping
Amazon Delivers Books Free to French Automated Lockers, Stirring Legal Controversy
In a statement released on Tuesday, the French book mediator, an independent public authority, reaffirmed its stance that Amazon is circumventing French law by offering free book delivery to automated lockers. The dispute revolves around the interpretation of a law, effective from October 2023, which mandates a minimum shipping fee of 3 euros for new book shipments within France, unless the book is picked up from a retail bookstore.
This disagreement on book economy legislation between France and Amazon has persisted since early February. The mediator, Jean-Philippe Mochon, had then stated that Amazon's lockers, automated storage units where packages can be picked up, do not legally allow for the elimination of shipping fees. However, Amazon may delivery books for free when picked up at certain locations, such as supermarket receptions with a book section.
Three months later, the mediator maintains a clear disagreement with Amazon, which continues to argue in favor of free pickup from lockers. The mediator estimates that this practice "constitutes a real challenge to the implementation of the law."
If mediation proves unsuccessful, the case may proceed to court. Furthermore, France awaits an opinion from the European Court of Justice on its 2021 book economy law, known as the "Darcos law," which Amazon considers non-compliant with community law.
Amazon France contends that its free delivery service to book lockers facilitates French access to books in areas lacking bookstores. Conversely, Paris defends a cultural exception policy aimed at preserving its network of independent bookshops.
Meanwhile, the French Bookshop Syndicate accuses Amazon of pursuing a deliberate strategy of loss-making on the book market to eliminate sales points. The syndrome denounces Amazon's disregard for French law and calls on the Minister of Culture to address these practices.
This issue raises discussions on logistical, environmental, and market dynamics, as well as compliance with local laws and consumer rights. The use of automated lockers can potentially minimize failures and redundancies in deliveries, reduce carbon footprints, and influence competitors to offer similar services. However, managing a network of these lockers requires substantial logistical investment in maintenance, security, and customer support.
- The mediator's stance remains unchanged, as Amazon's free delivery to lockers is seen as a challenge to the implementation of the French law requiring a minimum shipping fee for books.
- The dispute over Amazon's free book delivery to lockers, seen as a possible circumvention of French law, could escalate to court if mediation fails, with France awaiting an opinion from the European Court of Justice on its book economy law.
