I've been a bookstore owner for over 13 years. It's a learning experience and often a rewarding one. I've also become keenly aware of the difficulty of owning a small business in the age of Amazon and Amazon's unethical business practices.
From well-documented and unfair labor practices, to utilizing non-union, contract drivers who are pushed to unsafe limits, to creating virtual monopolies on some items. Amazon does NOT exemplify values most Americans hold dear.
Last week, Amazon broke a publishing embargo. This is a legally binding agreement that retailers must adhere to. Amazon released Margaret Atwood's "Testaments" a week early--perhaps the most anticipated and biggest release of 2019.
Many bookstores had planned pre-release sales, campaigns, and release parties and purchased cases of the book, all in anticipation. Many stores took a significant financial hit by the early and illegal release.
I know some area organizations and churches participate in Amazon's Smile Program. Organizations refer their members to Amazon and receive .5% of sales as a reward. I've seen local community members encouraging Amazon Smile purchases on purchases as a way to found local charities and non-profits.
Consider this, if a book sells for $25, then the organization earns 12.5 cents per book purchased. If 100 people buy a book, then the charity has advertised an ethically questionable business for a grand total of twelve dollars and fifty cents.
Your local independent bookstore, like From My Shelf Books & Gifts, would be thrilled to sell you those books with a bulk discount, and you could help grow your local community. Amazon might be easy and fast, but it comes with an ethical price...
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