Amazon tests free book delivery despite law designed to ban it

Online retailer Amazon now offers customers in France free delivery on book purchases, if they pick them up from one of the company’s lockers. 

Customers can place an order for a book, and instead of having it delivered to their door, collect it from one of over 2,500 locker sites owned by Amazon, for free.

These lockers are located in supermarkets, shopping centres, near train stations, or in other public areas. 

The company believes that this is a legal way to circumvent bans on free book deliveries in France, that came into force in 2021.

This law states customers “may under no circumstances” benefit from free delivery of a book “unless the book is collected from a book retailer,” or the order costs above €35.

Otherwise, a €3 minimum delivery fee must be charged.

The law was designed to encourage people to shop for books in-person at dedicated bookstores or at least collect their books from there as opposed to ordering them through an e-commerce site.

Read more: Ordering a book online in France is now more expensive

Amazon has consistently campaigned against the law, which is currently being reviewed by the European Court of Justice.

The court is yet to give its final ruling, but a European Commission on the matter criticised the law last year, claiming it may not be effective and would otherwise see publishing quality decrease in light of higher costs. 

Lockers found across the country 

Amazon states that out of the 2,500 collection points the books can be delivered to, some are located in stores that sell books, making the process the same as ordering a book from a retailer and collecting it for free.

Otherwise, the company says “more than 70% of these points of withdrawal are located in rural areas or small towns,” allowing people without access to bookstores nearby to benefit.

“We're delighted to be able to offer readers this new, convenient and cost-effective delivery option," said Géraldine Codron, head of books at Amazon in France. 

The French bookstore union (Syndicat de la librairie française) is dubious on whether Amazon is still complying with the stipulations of the law. 

“There are a lot of questions to be asked. Does a locker count as a business? Is it enough to be within the space of a hypermarket to satisfy the terms of the law?” said union spokesperson Guillaume Husson.

He also criticised Amazon for “attacking a text supported by the government and voted unanimously by parliamentarians.” 

Read more: Six things that show the French love for books and reading