Rakuten France, formerly known as PriceMinister, will stop operating on October 1st, as announced on its website. From that date, users will no longer be able to make new purchases or sales. The shutdown also applies to Spain, as both countries share the same operational structure. Around 180 employees will be affected by the closure. The decision comes after years of declining activity. Over the past decade, customer numbers have dropped by 33%, and website traffic has decreased by 42%. Part of this decline is linked to competition from Asian e-commerce platforms. Despite attempts to find a buyer, no offer met the three conditions set by management: job preservation, acceptable financial terms, and the ability to sustain the business long-term. The Economic, Social and Environmental Committee (CSE), a body that advises on labor and economic issues, also rejected the proposed solutions. In July, French e-commerce company Pixmania criticized the rejection of its acquisition offer, which aimed to save dozens of jobs and was backed by shareholders including Xavier Niel, a prominent French tech entrepreneur. Pixmania expressed "extreme disappointment" at not being able to preserve an activity that involved "more than 2,500 sellers" and generated "more than 400 million euros in turnover." Rakuten France had previously announced in mid-July that it would shut down by the end of the year after failing to find a buyer following a sale process launched in April. Several potential buyers, including Pierre Kosciusko-Morizet, founder of PriceMinister, and the Rosenblum brothers, founders of Pixmania, had shown interest. However, none of the offers were accepted. The platform, launched in 2000 under the name PriceMinister and acquired by Rakuten in 2010, will no longer be accessible after October 1st. Users will still have access to their accounts, including purchase history and certificates, until November 10. Funds from sales are managed by Mangopay, and sellers are advised to withdraw their money before November 10. Rakuten states that its guarantee remains valid for 14 days after the delivery of relevant orders, and sellers are still responsible for legal guarantees of product conformity and hidden defects. Loyalty points, such as Club R points, will be lost after October 1st. Users are encouraged to request invoices or purchase certificates and to keep confirmation emails and seller contact information. Personal data will remain protected under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and customer service will be available until November 30. After that date, users will need to contact sellers directly for any disputes or guarantees.