Jacques Damade, president of the association of independent publishers L’Autre livre deplored this measure: “Double blow for the book of which the international aspect is an important aspect. With this measure, we assess the health of Books and the dissemination of French culture. Only Amazon, a poor taxpayer, can rejoice. »
Pound industry hit globally
However, the offer did not only appeal to publishers, since it was aimed at associations as well as individuals – and therefore at booksellers at the same time. Philippe Mesnard, who runs the Comptoir du livre ancien et moderne (Ruelle-Sur-Touvre in Charente) then tries to appeal to collective intelligence.
« The federation of independent editions expressed its real concern and the economic consequences linked to this decision, but without any real immediate results.“, he assures. And in fact, Esther Merino and Dominique Tourte, president and general director of the Fedei, had taken a position in the columns of Actualité.
« It is certainly another bad blow for independent publishing, because of additional costs, but it is also a bad sign for the French language, an additional boost to editorial concentration and a hindrance in the wheels of the plurality of thinking “, they wrote.
READ – Books and Brochures: “Another bad blow for independent publishing”
And to add: “The French political world acts in the light of its own wanderings, having nothing more to say to the world, it perhaps thinks that this is the case for everyone. Do not eliminate the price for books and brochures, we have not given up the idea of a universal dialogue. »
Traders in the wake
Philippe Mesnard, emphasizes with them that “the La Poste group, of which the State and the Caisse des Dépôts remain the majority shareholders, negotiates preferential rates for e-commerce platforms even though Amazon, for example, has done everything possible to effectively circumvent the application of fees compulsory postage for sending books».
With the immediate consequence that the La Poste group “strengthens with this decision, the giants of the new economy and its multiple collaborators».
And in this way, it contributes to the weakening of small independent and professional structures. These essential players in the local and national economy find themselves weakened in favor of consumption models favoring generalized competition, encouraged by the slogan “all traders”.
According to him, independent booksellers would achieve 15 to 20% of their turnover via this price. “This significant loss of income linked to international shipments will hamper the operation of these small structures in an already very competitive context. These structures also offer their services to local and national consumers as distribution intermediaries. Some are directly threatened with extinction. »
La Poste, alongside publishing?
The bookseller specializing in ancient works believes – and few will disagree – that a “new preferential rate studied and reserved for book professionals, allowing the La Poste group not to lose money (as it affirmed in 2018 to the Cultural Affairs Commission) even if it does not earn any , on international shipments, would be welcome».
Problem, explained the Ministry of Culture: “This is a free offer proposed by the La Poste Group which does not result from any legal obligation under the universal postal service. The Group’s objective is to maintain an economical service while continuing the effort to reduce the deficit generated by this offer, which it supports in full.»
As such, no one really has the possibility of forcing the company to maintain this offer.
Solution, suggested by Philippe Mesnard: “A middle way can be found so that the La Poste Group continues to be the partner in the development of independent professionals in our territories and the actor in the influence of French culture abroad.»
To draw the attention of public authorities and readers to this subject, he recently set up a petition, which can be consulted at this address.
Photo credits: rey perezoso, CC BY SA 2.0
By Clément Solym
Contact : [email protected]
