Even as the success story of city-based Flipkart, and Amazon is being celebrated, worried Bangalore booksellers are gearing up to take on the e-commerce giants. They are lobbying for a protective law, similar to that in France, to control rebates and free shipping offered by the e-commerce companies.
Nitin Shah of Sapna Book House said, “These large corporations are aggressively capturing the book market through a price war, which no retailer can ever afford. If this goes unchecked, they will monopolise the industry and eliminate independent book stores in five years.” Mr. Shah is also president of the Bangalore Booksellers and Publishers’ Association. Inspired by the French re-course to law on the issue, the association has decided to lobby with the government for a similar measure to put an end to rebates on books and free shipping offered by these portals. Mr. Shah said they would take up the issue with their parent organisation — All India Booksellers and Publishers’ Association — at their next meeting.
France passed another law in June, popularly dubbed the ‘anti-Amazon law’ banning rebates on book sales and free shipping by online portals. Mr. Shah said there are similar rules on fixed book pricing in European countries like Germany, Italy and Portugal.
D.N. Guruprasad, a techie who quit a cushy job to start Akruti Books three years ago, said they are not shying away from competition, but are only seeking a level playing field with adequate regulation.
Krishna of Bookworm, said they are not against the interests of readers, but are only demanding fair business practices. He said the e-commerce portals are offering huge rebates and free shipping, even at the cost of incurring losses, to achieve scale.
Mayi Gowda, of Blossom Books, cautioned that monopoly by e-portals may also lead to change in trends in publishing, with a thrust only on bestsellers. Mr. Guruprasad added that it was evident that the tone of films changed with multiplexes, and the same fate awaits books.
Writer Vikram Sampath, executive director, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, said book stores are a slice of culture and the times, and not just business units. It is a matter of great concern that they are on the wane. He said the government should take steps to protect independent book stores. He would support any legal recourse to ensure effective regulation of e-commerce giants.
Queries with Flipkart and Amazon did not yield any response.
