Published on 01/16/2008
Amazon is currently bleeding €1,000 a day due to its free shipping policy in France, even after getting sued by the French Booksellers' Union and losing the case. Apparently, free shipping for books by Amazon meant the company was violating the country's 1981 Lang law that forbids booksellers from offering discounts of more than 5% off the list price - which Amazon promptly exceeded after factoring in free shipping. Amazon is currently trying to rally the French public in order to support Amazon's free shipping policy. Do you think the law ought to be more selective in how they carry out the spirit rather than the letter of the law?