Booksellers concerned over opening date delay as Amazon ramps up

Booksellers are becoming increasingly concerned that the UK government still hasn't given them a definitive opening date, as Amazon's business starts to return to normal. The Booksellers Association m.d. Meryl Halls has described the situation as “incredibly frustrating for bookshops", saying it's "adding insult to injury" for booksellers to know that their online rival Amazon is getting back to normal while they remain in lockdown.

Amazon is now accepting shipments of non-essential goods at its warehouses again, according to the Wall Street Journal. Fulfilment centres are also taking “unlimited” shipments of non-essential goods after prioritising essential items during the global lockdown, the paper said.

Since prioritising was introduced in the UK, there have been periods where even lead titles were shown as unavailable to buy on the Amazon website due to stocking issues. Delivery times are also now starting to speed up again following a slowdown in March.

An Amazon spokesman told The Bookseller: “We have increased our capacity allowing most sellers to send products into our fulfilment network. Similarly, we are increasing purchasing from our retail vendors. At the same time, we are improving delivery speeds in all categories, especially for products most highly demanded by customers.

“We continue to adjust our processes in response to Covid-19 to return to full capacity and Prime delivery speeds as quickly as possible.”

On all book products The Bookseller searched for on Amazon.co.uk, the "extended delivery time" warning has been removed. Furthermore, all these books could be received the same day or next day through Amazon Prime. This applied also to books that are not recently published and to those outside of the Top 50.

However, as Amazon ramps back up, UK booksellers who had to shut up shop during the lockdown are still waiting to hear whether they will be allowed to reopen from 1st June.

When it eased lockdown measures, the government initially said some stores would reopen next month but promised further guidance on phasing and which kinds of business would be included. So far that guidance has not materialised.

BA m.d. Meryl Halls said: “It’s incredibly frustrating for bookshops to still be awaiting clarity from the government on likely re-opening dates for retail, and we have been urging, through all our channels, for speed and clarity of information, with guidance on safe re-opening strategies and processes—which are crucial for booksellers to feel confident about embarking on opening their doors to customers, and keeping their staff safe and comfortable.

"Bookselling has been a beacon of resilience and resourcefulness throughout this crisis, but it’s taking its psychological and commercial toll on the bookselling community, and it’s adding insult to injury, of course, to know that their biggest competitor - and the company whose business model has benefited most comprehensively from the topsy-turvy impacts of Covid-19 - is now gearing up to get back to normal.

“Bookselling companies of all sizes have embraced the online world with gusto and resourcefulness since lockdown began, getting books to consumers who need them, and want to buy from specialist bookshops, but they really are working with one hand tied behind their backs while they are unable to open their doors and start serving their communities again.”

Amazon is also delaying its annual Prime Day until September, the Wall Street Journal said. The firm normally holds its two-day Prime shopping event in July but has shifted it back until the autumn, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In April, Reuters reported Prime Day had been postponed until at least August, estimating it could cost the retailer a potential $100m.

The news comes after the company's profits fell in the first quarter of 2020 by 30% as operating costs increased compared to the previous year.