France says goodbye to “everything free” on Amazon: discover the new rules for online book deliveries!
New regulation on delivery costs to fight unfair competition
France has decided to implement new regulations regarding delivery costs for book orders. This measure aims to restore a certain equity between online commerce giants and independent bookstores. From now on, only orders over €35 will be eligible for reduced delivery costs. This regulation will come into force on October 7, 2023. Delivery costs cannot be less than €0.01.
The impact on Amazon Prime users
Until now, Amazon Prime subscribers received free shipping on books. This was one of the main benefits of this subscription. However, with the introduction of this new regulation, Amazon Prime members will now have to pay delivery fees for their book purchases. This decision could lead to a loss of subscribers for the American giant, especially after recent price increases.
The reaction of Amazon and Fnac to this decision
Faced with this measure, companies like Amazon and Fnac have chosen to apply the minimum authorized delivery costs, i.e. €0.01. This only concerns orders over €35. On the other hand, for orders of less than €35, a minimum delivery fee of €3 will now be required on the main online platforms. This change should make local bookstore offerings more competitive compared to online purchases.
Amazon’s arguments to justify free delivery costs on books
Amazon has always maintained that free book delivery costs make it possible to compensate, at least in part, for the absence of local bookstores in certain rural areas or areas lacking this type of business. The end of free book delivery costs could therefore have an impact on these already disadvantaged areas.
The future of independent bookstores and the book market in the face of this new regulation
- Better equity between large platforms and small local businesses: thanks to this new measure, giants like Amazon will no longer be able to put local bookstores in difficulty by offering attractive delivery costs.
- Consumers potentially more inclined to support local businesses: with similar delivery costs, some buyers may prefer to turn to independent booksellers rather than going through online platforms.
- An uncertain impact on the online sale of books: this measure could encourage local commerce, but it could also push consumers to favor other media (digital books, audio books, etc.) or to combine their purchases to reach the threshold of €35 and benefit from the reduced delivery rate.
In summary, the new regulations on delivery costs for book orders in France aim to protect independent bookstores and promote fairer competition. Only time will tell us whether these measures will have a real positive impact on the book market and small local businesses.