Amazon blasted for 'unintentional' move on Independent Bookstore Day
Amazon's book sale began on April 23 and is set to last through to April 28, while Independent Bookstore Day on April 26 has been an annual tradition on the last Saturday in April for more than a decade.
The coinciding dates have irked independent sellers, who have described the move as 'cruel.'
'It's cynical, manipulative, and cruel - and for what? Amazon has already put half the bookstores in the country out of business, controlling over 60 percent of the market and selling far more books than all indie bookstores combined,' Andy Hunter, founder of Bookshop.org, said.
Independent Bookstore Day is organized by the American Booksellers Association and considered the one of the biggest days of the year for local booksellers.
Amazon, which announced the book sale on April 15, claimed in a statement to Vulture that the 'overlap was unintentional.'
'The dates for our sale were set this year to accommodate additional participating countries,' the statement said.
Amazon did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
The coinciding dates have irked independent sellers, who have described the move as 'cruel.' 'It's cynical, manipulative, and cruel - and for what? Amazon has already put half the bookstores in the country out of business...' said Andy Hunter
However, many indie book sellers believe that the move had far more sinister intentions.
James Webster, who is opening Recluse Books in Texas with his wife, told Vulture: 'I'm sure if you were to reach out to Marlboro, they would tell you that it's just a coincidence that the heaviest cigarette smokers get cancer.'
'At best it's insensitive and at worst it seems like a tactic to hurt small businesses,' Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, said.
Fatuma Hydara, owner of Tuma's Books in New York, told the outlet: 'Independent Bookstore Day happens the same weekend every year. There's no way their people didn't know this day was coming.'
'I don't believe that it's true at all. And if it is true, that's really silly of them, and they're not nearly as impressive as they think.'
Kelsey Black of the Book Burrow near Austin, Texas, said: 'I just rolled my eyes and thought, "Of course they did." We can't even have one day where it's just us - Amazon has to swoop in.'
The overlap of events comes at a cost for the independent bookstores, considering Amazon's size and ability to sell books with over a 50 percent markdown.
Many stores across the US celebrated the event, nonetheless, including treasure hunts for prizes, cupcakes, pop up stores, and deals and sales throughout the day.
Kelly Jo in Illinois wrote on Facebook: 'Tomorrow is Independent Bookstore Day. And shocker - Amazon's "big annual book sale" magically lands on the same weekend. It's not a coincidence. It's a strategy.'
'This isn't about books. It's about every local shop, salon, café, and small business fighting to survive while giants rig the game.'
Another book enthusiast, Briana Lindquist, wrote: 'This year, Amazon decided to hold a big sale that overlaps with Independent Bookstore Day. Help me keep my favorite places alive by stopping in a bookstore today instead of placing an order online!'
Maura Cheeks of Liz's Book Bar in Brooklyn, NYC, however, said she was hopeful that customers would choose to support the local stores.
'My feeling is that it's up to us as consumers and American citizens to make the choice about where to spend our money. It's that simple,' she said.
Leah Koch, owner of the Ripped Bodice, said: 'We can never compete with Amazon on the price of books and speed of shipping because we don't employ a private army, and we know that.'
'So, Amazon is not out competitor. Our goal is to provide an experience that you cannot get on Amazon.'
'F*** Bezos. May he be very miserable living alone on the moon,' Koch added.
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