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Amazon's free shipping is ruled illegal
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
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In France.
Those crazy French people. their court has decreed that the discounts are too steep and thus are illegal. Amazon faces a daily €1,000 fine if they don't drop the free shipping option. They have stated (for the moment) that they're willing to pay the fine.
Ars article
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: CO
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Goes to show American bureaucracy isn't the only insanity on the planet.
But... Free shmee. So Amazon just offers a deeper discount on "price" - or some other benefit / marketing hook. There's usually a workaround (aka loophole) for enterprising businesses.
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TOMBSTONE: "He's trashed his last preferences"
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Originally Posted by Love Calm Quiet 
Goes to show American bureaucracy isn't the only insanity on the planet.
American bureaucracy is nothing compared to many countries around the world.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
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Personally I think Amazon.com's shipping practices are in the grey area of legality as well.
Amazon.com in the US of A has a deal with Canada Post so that Canada Post will deliver all their stuff to Canadians. OK fine. The weird part is that Canada Post doesn't charge any taxes on Amazon.com shipments... but does for everyone else.
So, if I order from Amazon.ca in Canada, I get charged GST and PST.
If I order from Amazon.com in the USA and get it shipped to Canada, I get charged no brokerage charges or taxes at all.
That's great for me, but it penalizes all other US vendors, and all other Canadian vendors as well, because nobody else is exempt from these taxes.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
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Tough titties France. Goods may move freely between EU countries so in order for this to be effective you'd have to stop every other Amazon in the EU from offering free shipping. Good luck with that.
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Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
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France.
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__________________________________________________
Play Food Fight! available free on the App Store!
Or how about a really weird (or stupid) game: Nesen Probe, it's also free.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Boston, MA
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Originally Posted by MacosNerd
American bureaucracy is nothing compared to many countries around the world.
I ***hate*** I'm missin' that 
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vente: Achat
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France's law is meant to protect small business vendors. There's a reason why their downtowns are still alive with shops you can actually buy things in as opposed to huge malls/walmarts on the outskirts of town.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Yep - the States has forgotten that there are values aside from price.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
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I'd be much happier if they went after eBay rather than Amazon. I'm sick of the $39.95 shipping & handling for a freakin' plastic cup.
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
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Originally Posted by olePigeon
I'm sick of the $39.95 shipping & handling for a freakin' plastic cup.
I go to the dollar store for plastic cups 
-t
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: T •
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Can't they just charge $0.01 and be done with it?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
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I suspect any reduction in shipping is the issue, and so the $.01 shipping charge would still be considered an excessive discount.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Originally Posted by paul w
France's law is meant to protect small business vendors. There's a reason why their downtowns are still alive with shops you can actually buy things in as opposed to huge malls/walmarts on the outskirts of town.
ever wondered why there are so many chemist shops in france? It's because it's illegal for any one person or company to own more than two branches of a chemist shop.
Ever wondered why the french can still buy bread from dozens of local bakers? It's because the price for basic bread types is set by law.
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Addicted to MacNN
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
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Originally Posted by Eug
Amazon.com in the US of A has a deal with Canada Post so that Canada Post will deliver all their stuff to Canadians. OK fine. The weird part is that Canada Post doesn't charge any taxes on Amazon.com shipments... but does for everyone else.
Seriously?! I didn't know this! 
greg
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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