Emmaüs’ virtual store denounces “unfair competition” from Amazon

The practices of the American giant and other Chinese sites are criticized by this player in reuse and the solidarity economy.

Label Emmaüs, the second-hand online store of the association founded by Abbé Pierre, denounced on Monday April 15 the “unfair competition” giants of online commerce, particularly in the book sector. “There marketplace solidarity suffers more and more from the commercial practices of digital giants such as Amazon”details Label Emmaüs in a press release, which also attacks the Chinese sites Shein, Temu and AliExpress.

Its director, Maud Sarda, attributes the poor performance of Label Emmaüs to inflation and strategies “deleterious” platforms. In his sights: advertising “incessant”of the “deliveries always faster” and prices driven down. “For a year or two, it’s starting to be really complicated to survive”declared to AFP the co-founder of the store, whose visits fell by 20% in the first months of 2024, compared to the same period the previous year.

A demand for more regulation

In March, MPs adopted a bill to make fast fashion – short-lived fashion – less attractive, with financial penalties and a ban on advertising. The Senate has yet to vote on this text. “A beautiful track”estimates Maud Sarda, who nevertheless calls for laws to “stop Shein from offering 8,000 new products per day” Or “Amazon to offer free delivery”. This latter facility has, however, been prohibited since October 2023 on purchases of new books, as long as the total order does not exceed 35 euros.

Label Emmaüs, which derives a third of its income from the resale of books and collects more than 20 million per year, also calls for “promote the united circulation of books instead of their destruction”. According to a study by the National Publishing Union, 14% of books produced in France in 2022 are destroyed instead of being sold, a less costly option for the publisher than storage.