Defiant Amazon Will Pay Fines Rather Than Give Up Free Shipping In France
Date : 01 15 2008 Category : Business
Techdirt
A month ago, we wrote about the somewhat bizarre ruling in France that Amazon cannot offer free shipping within the country, as it represents an excessive discount in a country where the price of books is strictly regulated. Amazon was told that it would be fined 1,000 euros per day for continuing. Amazon has now appealed the ruling and defiantly noted that it will pay the fine rather than give in. Of course, after thirty days, the court can review the situation and could (and likely will) raise the fine to respond to Amazon's outspoken defiance. Legal experts quoted in the article suggest that there's very little chance that Amazon can win the appeal, but Amazon seems to be using this battle as a way to drum up some extra attention for its free shipping policies (for now) in France. Eventually, it may have to give in, but in the meantime, for 1,000 euros a day and all the news coverage, it's a pretty cheap advertisement for Amazon's free shipping offering.
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