Dec 09, 2011
For many booksellers, tomorrow’s discounts of up to $15 for using
Amazon’s price check app is the last straw. Although the app does not
apply to books, it does affect bookstore sidelines like toys, music, and
DVDs, and it adds to a perception that bricks-and-mortar bookstores
grossly overcharge.
The app also comes on top of data that customers regularly scan books with their smart phones and then order discounted copies directly from Amazon, or even use the bookstore’s free Wi-Fi to download Kindle e-books to their devices. The latter caused Diesel Bookstore, which has stores in Oakland, Malibu, and Brentwood, to produce free Occupy Amazon buttons and coasters that picture Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wearing devil horns.
The app also comes on top of data that customers regularly scan books with their smart phones and then order discounted copies directly from Amazon, or even use the bookstore’s free Wi-Fi to download Kindle e-books to their devices. The latter caused Diesel Bookstore, which has stores in Oakland, Malibu, and Brentwood, to produce free Occupy Amazon buttons and coasters that picture Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wearing devil horns.
Yesterday’s open letter
to Bezos from American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher was a
bit more tempered. “We’re not shocked, just disappointed,” he wrote.
“Despite your company’s recent pledge to be a better corporate citizen
and to obey the law and collect sales tax, you created a price-check app
that allows shoppers to browse Main Street stores that do collect sales
tax, scan a product, ask for expertise, and walk out empty-handed in
order to buy on Amazon. We suppose we should be flattered that an online
sales behemoth needs a Main Street retail showroom. Forgive us if we’re
not.”
Other retailers were downright angry. On New England Cable News,
David Didriksen, president of Willow Books & Cafe in Acton, Mass.,
and a member of the board of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts,
called it “another in a long series of predatory practices by Amazon.
You would think that a company of that size would be willing to just
live and let live for small retailers who can’t possibly affect them.
But, no, they want it all.”
Bookworks in Albuquerque, N.M., is fighting back with a sale to
encourage people to show there are alternatives to the Amazon offer. On
December 10, customers will receive 15% off their purchases of
everything except event tickets, event books, and gift certificates. "We
can't compete with Amazon on price, and we are not even trying, says
owner Wyatt Wegryzn. "We understand though why shopping on Amazon is so
tempting for people, especially in this tough economy. So we want to say
'thanks' to our customers for shopping with us."
How the price app will affect holiday sales for independents just
two weeks before Christmas is anyone’s guess. As for his relationship
with his colleagues on Main Street, Bezos has never been known for being
interested in winning friends.
1 comment:
Is it any wonder that the term 'corporate profit' has taken on such an evil connotation? This is just another in a long list of predatory tactics from Amazon. The KDP Select program launched by Kindle last week is the clearest signal yet that Amazon don't simply want market share. They want to completely monopolize.
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