The Senate has passed a law to help independent bookstores face competition from large online sales platforms like Amazon. The bill, sponsored by Laure Darcos (LR), was adopted on June 8 in first reading. Its aim is to establish a floor price for shipping costs.
"Distortion of competition"
To rebalance the competition between independent bookstores and online sales platforms, the text proposes a minimum price charged to the customer for the cost of shipping books. Sites like Amazon often offer free shipping to customers, a practice that is impossible for independent players.
"Amazon is forcing its competitors to align themselves with its one cent delivery, even though it is making a loss on this activity, but tax optimization allows it to impose its commercial practices. I regret that the Competition Authority has found nothing to object to such an abnormality. This distortion of competition prevents booksellers from developing their own remote offer explains the text of the law.
Amazon defending rurality?
Laure Darcos also responds to the argument that presents Amazon as "defender of rurality and the most modest". "Its main market is in large urban areas, among well-off professionals who can afford to pay delivery costs, she says.
The text, which was widely supported on both the right and the left, also authorizes local authorities to grant subsidies to independent bookstores, up to a limit of 30% of their turnover, and regulates book sales by publishers.
