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Online retailer Book Depository closing after nearly 20 years, customers lament decision Online book retailer Book Depository has announced it will be closing before the end of this month. It comes after its parent company Amazon flagged ‘role eliminations’. Book Depository’s website spruiks a range of more than 20 million books and free delivery worldwide — shipping to more than 120 countries. “Our vision is to provide all books to all by improving range, access and affordability of books,” the website says. But by April 26, it will be closed.
The UK-based online store made the announcement over social media in the early hours of Wednesday morning. It said books can be ordered up to 12pm BST on April 26. “…we will continue to deliver your purchases and provide support for any order issues until 23 June 2023,” the retailer said.
The news was met with sadness by people who relied on the retailer to order books from overseas. “Book Depository was the only way I could afford to buy books that aren’t available in my country (English books, manga/manhua) since I’m from [Latin America] and the delivery costs are ridiculously expensive,” one Twitter user said. “This is such sad news. You have made it possible to send books to my nieces and nephews in mainland Europe in spite of Brexit,” another said. Who owns Book Depository? Founded back in 2004, Amazon bought Book Depository in 2011. Where is Book Depository based? Book Depository has offices in the UK, Spain, India and South Africa. It has ‘fulfilment’ centres in Melbourne and Gloucester, UK. Why is Book Depository closing?
The announcement did not detail a reason. But it comes amid cutbacks at its parent company, Amazon. Late last month, Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy gave an update on the company’s operational plan and “role eliminations” . “For several years leading up to this one, most of our businesses added a significant amount of headcount,” he said. “This made sense given what was happening in our businesses and the economy as a whole. “However, given the uncertain economy in which we reside, and the uncertainty that exists in the near future, we have chosen to be more streamlined in our costs and headcount.
“The overriding tenet of our annual planning this year was to be leaner while doing so in a way that enables us to still invest robustly in the key long-term customer experiences that we believe can meaningfully improve customers’ lives and Amazon as a whole.” He said about 27,000 jobs were being cut from the company — but it’s unclear how many of those were from Book Depository.
Online book retailer Book Depository, which offers free delivery worldwide, has announced that it will be closing before the end of April. The UK-based company, which boasts a range of over 20 million books and ships to more than 120 countries, did not give a reason for the closure, but it comes amid cutbacks at its parent company, Amazon. The announcement has been met with sadness by customers who relied on the retailer to order books from overseas. Book Depository was acquired by Amazon in 2011, and has offices in the UK, Spain, India and South Africa, as well as “fulfilment” centres in Melbourne and Gloucester.
While the specific reason for Book Depository’s closure has not been stated, it seems likely that it is related to the recent cutbacks at Amazon. The move has left many customers disappointed, especially those who relied on the retailer to purchase books that were not available in their countries.
Book Depository’s global shipping and large selection of books made it a popular choice for many readers. However, the closure of the online store may force customers to turn to other retailers or pay more for international shipping. It remains to be seen what impact this closure will have on the online book market and on readers around the world.
In any case, the closure of Book Depository serves as a reminder of the constant changes and challenges faced by online retailers and the importance of adapting to new circumstances in order to survive in a highly competitive market.
It is unfortunate news for book lovers and loyal customers of Book Depository. The closure of the online retailer is a significant loss for those who relied on the company to order books that were not available in their countries or were too expensive to buy locally. Book Depository’s free worldwide delivery and vast collection of books made it an attractive option for many customers, and its closure is undoubtedly disappointing.
While the exact reason for the closure is unknown, it is believed to be related to the cutbacks at Amazon, Book Depository’s parent company. The CEO of Amazon recently announced that the company was making significant role eliminations to streamline its costs and headcount in response to the uncertain economy.
It remains to be seen what impact the closure of Book Depository will have on the book industry and the availability of books in countries where they are not readily available. However, it is a reminder of the challenges that many online retailers face in a competitive marketplace, particularly in uncertain economic times.
As for the customers of Book Depository, the retailer has promised to continue delivering purchases and providing support for any order issues until 23 June 2023, which will give some time for customers to find alternative sources for their book needs.
