Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2014/07/14/amazon_france_routes_around_free_shipping_ban_with_001_charge/

Amazon France routes around free shipping ban with €0.01 charge

New Questions Fréquemment Posées doc explains the workaround

By Simon Sharwood

Posted in Legal, 14th July 2014 00:58 GMT

Amazon France has come up with a neat way to neuter the nation's ban on free shipping of books.

The book-slinger has published a Questions Fréquemment Posées to explain its stance.

The workaround is simple: Amazon France has decided on a flat rate of €0.01 for shipping.

While the decision to snub France's stance is cheeky, it's no victory because the nation mandates that no vendor can discount books by more than five per cent. That regime is designed to protect the nation's small booksellers, which are considered to be an important cultural institution. Amazon can therefore offer a little more convenience, but can't beat locals on the price of books.

And it is probably taking a bath on delivery charges. ®