Amazon is testing free delivery of Books that the law should prohibit

Customers will be able to collect their Books from “more than 2,500” collection points in France.

The French subsidiary of the online commerce giant Amazon announced on Tuesday November 5, 2024 that it was setting up, via its automated lockers, a free book delivery solution, which a law sought to prohibit. Since October 2023, Amazon.fr and other online sellers must charge a minimum of 3 euros for book delivery, for any order less than 35 euros.

The law of December 30, 2021 on the book economy provides that the delivery of new books “cannot under any circumstances” be free, “unless the book is collected from a book retail store“. This law is intended to encourage the French to buy their books in a bookstore or other point of sale. It was contested by Amazon before the administrative justice, which requested the opinion of the Court of Justice of the Union European.

Without waiting for this opinion, Amazon found a solution that it believes complies with the texts in force. “For their book orders, customers can now choose free delivery in a vast network of more than 2 500 collection points throughout France. This option is available for a selection of collection points located in businesses selling books in particular. he said in a press release.

These collection points are automated lockers generally located in the shopping mall of supermarkets, or counters at the checkout or at the reception of various businesses, mainly “More than 70% of these collection points are located in rural areas or small towns,” Amazon clarified, giving examples of supermarkets in Cher, Côtes-d’Armor, Oise or Var. “We are excited to offer this new convenient and cost-effective delivery option to readers today.”indicated the books manager of Amazon.fr, Géraldine Codron, quoted in a press release.

Questioned by AFP about this offer, the French Bookstore Union (SLF), professional organization of independent booksellers, said it was skeptical about its legality. “We can ask ourselves a lot of questions. Is a locker a business? Is it enough to be within the confines of a hypermarket to satisfy the terms of the law?”, affirmed the general delegate Guillaume Husson. “Amazon is an actor without faith or law, which attacks a text supported by the government and voted unanimously by parliamentarians”he added.