Amazon tastes Nectar no more

I’m still taken aback by Nectar’s sudden parting of the ways from Amazon. Amazon’s website gives no reason at all, but simply reports the fact. Nectar, however, seems to be claiming the responsibility for the decision:

We are constantly growing and developing the Nectar programme to ensure that we provide collectors with a spread of opportunities through which to collect and spend their points. On occasion, when we add a new partnership, we review existing relationships with companies that operate similar businesses.

So far, so reasonable; yet none of the partner members listed by Nectar as alternatives sells books:

The good news is that you can still collect Nectar points through eShops at over 500 online brands such as ASOS, Next, Debenhams, Argos, Apple, Currys and hundreds more!

I contacted Nectar about this, and received a commendably quick response. Unfortunately, it merely introduced me to the existence of abebooks.co.uk and, from the information supplied, it was clear that I, as a long-standing customer, know more than Nectar about how abebooks works.

I replied pointing out that this was not an equivalent outlet, since abebooks

• is not a retailer, selling direct to customers, but rather provides a portal for individual booksellers;
• costs more in terms of postage, as each item bought attracts a postage fee, unless there’s a promotion running;
• largely features secondhand books;
• does not have an extensive range of audiobooks (which I buy a lot since my aunt went blind);
• does not offer any ‘Look Inside function’ for books.

I’ve yet to receive an answer to that email.

It’s up to Nectar to select its partner outlets for the points scheme, of course, but this feels strange. Perhaps the decision is really due to Nectar wishing to distance itself from a company implicated in tax avoidance; but, if this is the case, why not say so? (Unless taking the moral high ground might come back to bite Nectar…) To state that there are other partner members that ‘operate similar businesses’ is both unsatisfying and disingenuous.

Perhaps it’s simply a coincidence that Sainsbury’s now sells ebooks…