Amazon ordered to end free delivery on books in France

#1 X'tyfe on 12 Dec 2007 - 20:32

what the ****?

most retarded news ever

(1 reply) #2 NateB1 on 12 Dec 2007 - 20:38

Sooo.... Everyone in France pays higher prices because of these stupid regulations? I don't see the issue with loss leaders - why regulate this? If the retailer wants to lose money on a product, why is that an issue? Competition is a good thing. Anti-competitive laws like this only hurt the consumer, who is forced to pay higher prices.

#2.1 theyarecomingforyou on 13 Dec 2007 - 01:23

The whole point is that loss leaders are used to take out the competition and then prices can be increased. Having Amazon destroy their business model is not good competition... it is simply destroying businesses. In a situation like this it is up to the regulatory authorities to decide whether any company has taken things too far and in this case they have clearly decided that has taken place. I don't necessarily agree with the ruling but I complete understand it.

#3 z0phi3l on 12 Dec 2007 - 20:39

YAY! France as always getting it wrong

#4 fergiej on 12 Dec 2007 - 20:42

Appeasing the bookseller's union? That figures. Is EVERYTHING unionized in France?

(7 replies) #5 markjensen on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:06

Hmmm... If Amazon is allowed to sell items cheaper than local stores can legally sell the same books for, then there is a problem that ought to be faced.

Instead of allowing brick & mortar stores to sell at more flexible pricing, they went the other way.

#5.1 kezzzs on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:13

Well small bookshops can't very well have 'loss leaders' since they wouldn't be able to afford it. I think it's good TBH. For example places like Tesco open up in places in the UK all the time and it seriously damages local independents because they can afford to sell at a loss.

#5.2 cybershark on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:22

No it's not good, I the consumer want the best price. What's next government (tax payers) subsidies to keep all the small business afloat? So much for good business models succeeding and bad ones going out of business.

#5.3 jakez eb on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:34

Quote - (cybershark said @ #5.2)

No it's not good, I the consumer want the best price. What's next government (tax payers) subsidies to keep all the small business afloat? So much for good business models succeeding and bad ones going out of business.

You're right! Giving the small business owner no chance to succeed by allowing the established players the ability to sell for less than you can directly buy it from the manufacturer for is a sure fire way to promote competition in a market.

Why not just let all of the close to monopoly owning businesses do the same. It will ensure that only the strong can compete much less break into a market. No wait lets just start setting prices below cost for everything and... no more small businesses... no more start ups... no more mom and pops...

#5.4 cybershark on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:45

Quote - (jakez eb said @ #5.3)

You're right! Giving the small business owner no chance to succeed by allowing the established players the ability to sell for less than you can directly buy it from the manufacturer for is a sure fire way to promote competition in a market.

Why not just let all of the close to monopoly owning businesses do the same. It will ensure that only the strong can compete much less break into a market. No wait lets just start setting prices below cost for everything and... no more small businesses... no more start ups... no more mom and pops...

You demonstrate an inherent inability to read:
good business models succeeding and bad ones going out of business

Last edited by cybershark on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:52

#5.5 markjensen on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:46

Quote - (jakez eb said @ #5.3)

...
Why not just let all of the close to monopoly owning businesses do the same. It will ensure that only the strong can compete much less break into a market. No wait lets just start setting prices below cost for everything and... no more small businesses... no more start ups... no more mom and pops...

Doesn't this have another name?...

Hmmm...

Oh, yeah! The Wal-mart Effect

#5.6 theyarecomingforyou on 13 Dec 2007 - 01:25

Quote - (jakez eb said @ #5.3)

You're right! Giving the small business owner no chance to succeed by allowing the established players the ability to sell for less than you can directly buy it from the manufacturer for is a sure fire way to promote competition in a market.

Why not just let all of the close to monopoly owning businesses do the same. It will ensure that only the strong can compete much less break into a market. No wait lets just start setting prices below cost for everything and... no more small businesses... no more start ups... no more mom and pops...

+1

#5.7 C_Guy on 13 Dec 2007 - 16:18

Jakez: Sooo instead of doing what's best for the consumer (the Wal-Mar effect) you'd rather have a few small businesses around so everyone can offer higher prices? Get a grip.

Yeah, we need competition, yes, we need small businesses. If Wal-Mart (or Amazon) comes to town and does it better then you better find some way to promote yourself or your business is dead. Don't blame your competition for doing it better. In the end, it's all about winning the consumer's dollar. They choose where their money goes. It's the small business owner's job to win over that dollar.

#6 jakez eb on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:36

There is a huge difference between a bad business model failing and going under and a good business model having to compete by starting off with loss.

#7 cybershark on 12 Dec 2007 - 21:50

Oh so competition is no good either. Brilliant logic legislation to make everyone sell at the same price. You got all the answers, but no solutions.

#8 Hak Foo on 13 Dec 2007 - 01:02

I'm guessing that 1,000 euro per day is much less than the lure of free shipping brings in for Amazon. It may actually be better business to just stay in contempt of court indefinitely.

(2 replies) #9 SimpleRules on 13 Dec 2007 - 04:16

Sounds to me like lack of competition is why the book shop prices are higher than Amazon. Here in Blighty Amazon is more expensive ... and then there is shipping costs which aren't free here.

#9.1 winmoose on 13 Dec 2007 - 11:30

Eh? Not sure where you shop, but Amazon prices are very competitive, and shipping costs are free if you spend over £15, which isn't that much at all.

#9.2 SimpleRules on 13 Dec 2007 - 11:35

Most books I buy aren't over £15 and so I generally end up with £3 shipping, or having to buy something I don't want ... I've found Amazon and the online retailers are usually pennies cheaper than the high street, its not worth the shipping cost.

#10 C_Guy on 13 Dec 2007 - 16:23

As long as Amazon sticks to the 5% rule, who cares if they offer free shipping? Those mom and pop stores ship the book form the shelf to your hand for free so Amazon shipping it to your door is really no different.

The union needs to go back to school and lean that the price of the book has nothing to do with the price of delivery. The price of the book is the price of the book. The price for delivery is entirely separate and has nothing to do with book prices.

#11 Glassed Silver on 14 Dec 2007 - 07:03

that is stupid, especially since actually shipping has nothing to do with the book I order...
oh well... Glad I live in Germany.
I pay for amazon.fr shipping anyways should I need it one day (and I guess I will)

Glassed Silver:mbl

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