France Passes Anti-Amazon law on book sales

[Victorious Secret]

France is being France again...

 

The law prohibits the 5% off and free shipping that Amazon employs, so Amazon being Amazon follow the minimum shipping value required by law and now charges a whopping 1 cent for book shipments. Its basically everyone crying that Amazon can take such heavy "losses" on their book sales and offering such cheap/free shipping and the fact that while Amazon is doing nothing illegal, they simply can't be matched by other establishments. But, not Amazons problem that they can play with razor thin margins on product and on shipping and still make profits. 

Law No. 2014-779 of 8 July 2014 will be the one that finally supervise "the terms of distance selling books." Dubbed "anti-Amazon" since its inception, it might eventually give new exposure to the dealer, who has planned for a while its response. The text prohibits the holding of free shipping and 5% discount on books, but an additional amendment would have required.

 

 

 

 

A new law  forbids us to continue to offer you 5% discount and free shipping in France for your book orders. However, you are very likely to express your wish to have access to the widest offer, quickly delivered where you live, and at the best price.

We think you're right.

That is why we have decided to maintain free shipping for the books for all clients subscribed to the program  Prime.  For other clients, do not subscribe to Amazon Prime program, we have set the shipping costs to the minimum permitted by law or just 1 penny for an order of books. 

Most importantly, we work every day to offer: a wide choice of 5 million French titles, new or used, the latest rare books; 150,000 eBooks French downloadable in 60 seconds; customer reviews and customized to help you choose your next book recommendations; Fast and Free Shipping with Amazon Prime, throughout France; and innovative services such as guaranteed delivery on release day for new or redemption of your used books.

 

 

 

http://www.actualitte.com/justice/la-loi-anti-amazon-au-journal-officiel-les-frais-de-port-a-1-centime-51331.htm

[TheGosuStandard]

I feel as if the other establishments should step up their game (unless we're talking about small business).

[geogga]

Wow France ur tuff

[Victorious Secret]

I feel as if the other establishments should step up their game (unless we're talking about small business).

 

If this is cold, so be it. 

 

I'm okay with small businesses going down if they aren't providing a compelling enough reason to buy from them. 

 

I don't hate shopping in stores. I'm actually okay with it, and sometimes its much faster (Especially with price matching) to go in and get it the same day. But thats because I have some incentive to go in. 

 

Local shops need to make that incentive, not cry to mommy and daddy and try and punish Amazon for being Amazon. 

[Vitalius]

Admittedly, I don't like Amazon to an extent. The reason they can be so cheap is because they make everything uber efficient. Read: Their warehouses are sweat shops effectively.

 

I feel as if the other establishments should step up their game (unless we're talking about small business).

That's the thing. Amazon is very unique in how it runs. It has basically no profits. It turns all profits into more infrastructure (warehouses, distribution lines, etc) so that it can dominate the shipping world. That's why they can take a loss like this. They make so much money and their goal isn't short term profits, but long term domination. They are playing a long game. That's why the government has to get involved to cripple them and prevent a monopoly on this stuff. 

They want to be the online Walmart (Where you can buy anything and everything for dirt cheap prices).

That's why I don't like Amazon. They want to "win" and they have a valid plan & drive to do it. It's the drive most companies lack. They are usually pressured by investors for profits and return on investments. Amazon doesn't give a crap about that apparently.

Them winning means consumers lose though because monopolies are bad. That's why I don't like Amazon.

[Quest]

Monopoly

[TheGosuStandard]

If this is cold, so be it.

I'm okay with small businesses going down if they aren't providing a compelling enough reason to buy from them.

I don't hate shopping in stores. I'm actually okay with it, and sometimes its much faster (Especially with price matching) to go in and get it the same day. But thats because I have some incentive to go in.

Local shops need to make that incentive, not cry to mommy and daddy and try and punish Amazon for being Amazon.

Understandable, Walmart isn't allowed to be in NYC which probably sucks for me.

[Victorious Secret]

Understandable, Walmart isn't allowed to be in NYC which probably sucks for me.

 

Wait...what? How come Walmart isn't allowed there??

[TheGosuStandard]

Wait...what? How come Walmart isn't allowed there??

To protect the mass amount of small businesses (this is last I heard of it though).

[Mooshi]

I wish Texas was as 'tough' as France. Shopping at Amazon in this state equates to brick and mortar levels of sales taxes. I wish we could be badasses and charge only an extra cent to the overall price. On a more serious note, I wish people would get lost and let Amazon do their own thing without implementing bullshit local laws to someone's website.

[Vitalius]

I wish Texas was as 'tough' as France. Shopping at Amazon in this state equates to brick and mortar levels of sales taxes. I wish we could be badasses and charge only an extra cent to the overall price. On a more serious note, I wish people would get lost and let Amazon do their own thing without implementing bullshit local laws to someone's website.

"local" *France is an entire country*

 

I think that's the point of being a national government. You can make laws local governments can't. 

I don't think you guys realize the potential for evil here if Amazon is left to do it's own thing. Sure, it's all hunky dory right now since Amazon doesn't care about profits, but what happens they are a monopoly and the expansion phase is over? Haven't you ever played Civilization? Control. Control is the next stage after expansion and improvement (Amazon is doing both). 

When Amazon starts caring about profits and has become a monopoly, then we're screwed. 

[Mooshi]

"local" *France is an entire country*

 

I think that's the point of being a national government. You can make laws local governments can't. 

I don't think you guys realize the potential for evil here if Amazon is left to do it's own thing. Sure, it's all hunky dory right now since Amazon doesn't care about profits, but what happens they are a monopoly and the expansion phase is over? Haven't you ever played Civilization? Control. Control is the next stage after expansion and improvement (Amazon is doing both). 

When Amazon starts caring about profits and has become a monopoly, then we're screwed. 

 

Relax, Amazon isn't nuke happy Gandhi.

 

The jab against Amazon and our state was mainly a personal gripe since I get annoyed when I find a good deal on Amazon and realize I save money getting the same item for a higher price elsewhere because of the added fees from Amazon. If it wasn't for being gifted Amazon gift cards, I wouldn't even give them the time of day.

[Socky]

Amazon be like, Haters gonna hate

[LifesCompanion]

1 cent shipping

 

That's quite a troll move by Amazon; all though, I can see why EU countries would like to tax businesses... great economy /s

[flibberdipper]

Wow. That's a lot of money for shipping.

[Nineshadow]

 

That's quite a troll move by Amazon; all though, I can see why EU countries would like to tax businesses... great economy /s

Romania once wanted to put taxes on prostitution and porn...

[Fetzie]

Understandable, Walmart isn't allowed to be in NYC which probably sucks for me.

 

Walmart went bankrupt in Germany

[StingBull]

Romania once wanted to put taxes on prostitution and porn...

 

Holy shit, that's actually so evil yet so smart. Government could make a shit ton of money that way.

[Nineshadow]

Holy shit, that's actually so evil yet so smart. Government could make a shit ton of money that way.

But implementing it would be pretty much impossible...

[StingBull]

But implementing it would be pretty much impossible...

 

Let's think about it. How would they take people's money for watching porn? They can force the ISPs to give out their record (I think every ISP in every country already do this) Then they can send a letter asking for the tax. They could slyly try to shame people into paying, "if you don't pay we tell you hang around in that weird Japanese porn site that no human should visit" kind of deal.

 

This tax will bring government regulation to porn. With government regulation there will come legitimacy. In time, people will adjust and this will be a part of their normal life. Drastic changes will occur in Romanian culture. A sexual revolution if you will. Then everyone will pay their porn tax just like any other tax.

 

Or maybe it's 3 am and I'm rambling like an idiot. Yeah, it's probably that.

[Nineshadow]

Let's think about it. How would they take people's money for watching porn? They can force the ISPs to give out their record (I think every ISP in every country already do this) Then they can send a letter asking for the tax. They could slyly try to shame people into paying, "if you don't pay we tell you hang around in that weird Japanese porn site that no human should visit" kind of deal.

 

This tax will bring government regulation to porn. With government regulation there will come legitimacy. In time, people will adjust and this will be a part of their normal life. Drastic changes will occur in Romanian culture. A sexual revolution if you will. Then everyone will pay their porn tax just like any other tax.

 

Or maybe it's 3 am and I'm rambling like an idiot. Yeah, it's probably that.

What about hookers?

How will you work that out?

[StingBull]

What about hookers?

How will you work that out?

 

I don't know how it is in your country but in mine brothels are regulated by the state. They are responsible to pay tax and make sure their uh.. employees are healthy.

[Yoinkerman]

In some places they have laws to prevent big business coming in and decimating everything by subsidizing themselves losing money until it drives everyone out of business then jacking up prices.

I don't particularly see anything wrong with such laws.

[c.bert]

I don't understand why the french government are being so anti consumer that it does not make any sense from a consumers stand point why they would do this. I understand that small book shops are going out of business and they are blaming it on amazon and that has been happening in the UK and I presume for the rest of the world for the last decade but trying to keep them open is pointless as if it become too expensive to buy a paper book on amazon then more people will move towards digital books which in m opinion would be a good thing as not as much paper is required for the production of a book which may only be read once.

[Silent_Xaxal]

And the Socialists are at it again, unless Francois' party no longer has a majority in the government.