Malls. Controversy over the sale of non-essential products

A box of Playmobil®? I’ll get you that. Tuesday morning in a hypermarket Carrefour de Nantes, a customer arrives at the “order point”, installed in front of the toys department, prohibited from entering. The seller disappears between the gondolas. And come back with the toy.

He brings it to the collection point, located at the exit of the store. The customer, who follows suit, only has to pay in cash or by card and leave with his purchase.

In this hypermarket, almost all the products from the closed shelves can be bought, without prior order: books, CDs, DVDs, textiles, sports, flowers… However, in terms of non-essential products, the reconfinement decree only authorizes “The withdrawal of orders”. This suggests that only a product previously ordered by internet, phone or email can be picked up in store. The Ministry of the Economy confirms this: The rules of “click and collect (click and grab) are clear. The rest is not allowed.

“Checks in progress”

So, how do you explain that this “counter sale” continues? This circumvention of the rules suits everyone, weighs Olivier Dauvers, specialist in mass distribution. This allows stores to continue to have some activity, regardless of their size. Small traders also sell on the doorstep: perfumers, for example.

But what is the scale of the phenomenon? It is widespread at Carrefour ”, considers Olivier Dauvers. These are local initiatives, Carrefour shade. We monitor changes in regulations and ongoing controls. We will adapt. But this practice meets a need.

For its part, Auchan recognizes practicing over-the-counter sales in all its hypermarkets. At Casino, it is tested in three stores. And in groups of independent workers? Leclerc did not respond to our requests. Intermarché ensures that it does not practice this method of distribution. Same watchword at Système U: We do not think that the sale without prior order is authorized ”, indicates Thierry Desouches, the spokesperson for Système U.

An analysis shared by Philippe Gueydon, who co-chairs the federation of toy stores: It is an outlaw process. You can only travel for a non-essential product if there is a prior order. The leader of King Jouet finds pity such practices. We do not want to oppose the different types of businesses. But it is not by being creative in circumventing the rules that we will get out collectively.

– .