Stationery traders bemoan ‘hijack’ of season by illegal vendors

AMMAN — The Stationery and Office Equipment Traders Association on Thursday voiced concern about the economic conditions and challenges facing traders in the sector, especially “poachers who hijack” the season from licensed bookshop owners. 

The sector has over 3,000 trader, importer, distributor and bookshop owners around the Kingdom, member of the board of directors and deputy secretary of the association, Samer Hijzai told The Jordan Times over the phone on Thursday.

“They aim to provide all office services and sell stationery to government departments, schools, hospitals, private companies and, of course, individuals, especially since they all need such items,” he said.

However, after these traders, distributors and bookshop owners all readied their goods for the new season that starts next week and comes only once every year, they were surprised by unlicensed street vendors and tents violating all laws and regulations that prevent them from wronging traders.

“Bookshops are licensed at the Ministry of Industry and Trade with a registry and a permit and so on, and they work lightly all year, but the actual period of work is the back to school season,” he said, noting that one might find a tent at a mall’s entrance filled with stationery sold without licences or permits.

“There is a large vegetable and fruit shop with  dedicated space for backpacks and stationery, open only for two weeks preceding the new academic year,” Hijazi said, claiming that last year a car showroom removed two to three vehicles and dedicated space to sell stationery. 

“We went to the Greater Amman Municipality and talked to the trade minister and were promised action but nothing has happened,” he said.

If traders are not protected and the season ends without having sold anything, the cheques will pile up and they will not be able to pay back the cost of the goods they bought, Hijazi said.

When traders are unable to pay salaries or bills, they will end up bankrupt and probably in jail.

“Even the bigger distributor who supplied 20 to 30 bookshop owners goods to sell, with the hope of having the money back after the season. What is going to happen to them? They will have cheques worth thousands of dinars piled up,” the deputy secretary said.

Hijzai called on parents and families to buy only from licensed bookshops to ensure the quality of the items, especially since the vendors, and tents will “disappear” after the season ends. 

He also urged the concerned entities to intervene and protect traders and bookshop owners from total collapse and bankruptcy.