But rapid growth has turned Amazon into a symbol of dominant multinationals, which say the eurozone’s second-largest economy is importing undesirable American-style consumerism, as well as job volatility and environmental degradation.
Led by the ad, Mr. Le Mare and other politicians urged shoppers not to give their business to Amazon.
The mayor of Paris, Hidalgo of H, and environmental organizations and trade groups have launched an online petition called “Know Sans Amazon” (“Amazon Free Christmas”). Addressing Santa Claus, he signs “#Christmaswithout Amazon”, described as a tax-dodging ginch that destroys small businesses, jobs and the environment.
However, Virtual Call for Weapons quickly fell victim to a hack online hack that overloaded the website with fake signatures sent from more than 200 different servers, including hundreds named by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, with the comment “Sorry, sorry. “
But Amazon’s influence in France – which accounts for about 20 percent of the French e-commerce market – is such that other major retailers have stopped agreeing to postpone their Black Friday sales until Amazon does.
Mr Le Maire told the French Senate on Wednesday that he understood the need to help small retailers by postponing Black Friday, Friedrich Duval, general manager of Amazon France, told a French radio station on Thursday. Amazon was “listening to the government’s recommendations” and will keep its sales offline until December 4, paving the way for a broader agreement.
Nevertheless, a major controversy erupted on Black Friday over the plight of French politicians at the expense of small businesses, which did not happen in Europe a few years ago. It was started primarily by Amazon, which promoted big sales in the lock step with the people of the United States.
