It all started last August, when the Orléans company Pharmazon found itself in Google's sights. Specializing in the online sale of parapharmacy products, Pharmazon offers its customers the possibility of collecting their products free of charge from the pharmacy. But now the American giant Google does not appreciate this offer. For what ? We'll explain it to you.
Pharmacy withdrawals do not comply with Google Shopping rules
The problem comes from Google Shopping rules. Google allows businesses to sell their products on its platform, but imposes strict criteria for ads to be accepted. One of these criteria concerns delivery options.
The concern for Pharmazon is that its free withdrawal from pharmacies does not respect these rules. Google does not consider this option to be a true delivery method. For what ? Because it is free and, above all, it does not involve a carrier. Google, for its part, prefers that only paid options, such as home delivery or parcel relays, be taken into account, because they involve transport costs. Result: Pharmazon had to modify its site to comply with these requirements.
An agreement reached after long negotiations
After complicated negotiations, a compromise was reached. In September, an agreement appeared to allow Pharmazon to maintain its pharmacy collection service while respecting Google's rules. The idea was for the company to display “collection in store” accompanied by the words “free delivery from 29 euros” for other delivery options.
But as soon as it was set up, the agreement showed its limits: the mention “collection in store” only appeared after a click on the ad, and the phrase “free delivery” was replaced by “29 euros minimum “, which caused confusion and slowed down customers. Are you still following?
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The future of Pharmazon is threatened
Faced with these problems, Pharmazon decided to go back and remove the changes imposed by Google. Result: the company took legal action. Audrey Lecoq, the director of Pharmazon, explains to Le Parisien: “Google did not respect the agreement we made and that is why I am attacking them in summary proceedings. » Its founder, Audrey Lecoq, was present with her team at her side, “determined to preserve the jobs at risk if Google closed the company's Google Shopping account. This channel represents almost half of Pharmazon's turnover,” the Orléans company communicated to Actu Orléans.
If this situation continues, the future of its online sales site, which represents a significant part of its turnover and its jobs, is at stake. The Orléans commercial court must now examine the case. Initially scheduled for October 24, the hearing was postponed to this Thursday, November 7. The court's decision is awaited, and it could be crucial for Pharmazon's future.
Court decision expected at the end of November
During the hearing, Google's lawyer contested the interim relief, citing “serious disputes” and asking to transfer the case “to the Paris commercial court”. Our colleagues from Actu Orléans report that she clarified that, although Pharmazon targeted Google France, it is Google Ireland which supervises operations in Europe. This explanation surprised the president of the court, who reacted by asking: “What is Google France for, in this case? » A question reinforced by the involvement of the general director of Google France in the exchanges with Pharmazon, although the lawyer specified that this intervention responded to the “media coverage” of the file.
The judgment is expected on November 21, 2024.
