The FTC is interviewing Amazon sellers as part of antitrust probe
Antitrust officials have begun interviewing Amazon sellers to determine whether the e-commerce giant is using its market power to hurt competition.
Federal Trade Commission investigators have been conducting interviews with Amazon merchants, covering a range of topics, reports Bloomberg. All were asked what percentage of revenue their businesses derive from Amazon versus other online marketplaces like Walmart Inc. and EBay Inc. It suggests regulators are skeptical about Amazon’s claims that shoppers and suppliers have real alternatives to the Seattle-based company.
The interviews indicate the agency is in the early stages of a sweeping probe to learn how Amazon works, spot practices that break the law and identify markets dominated by the company.
The FTC is also seeking to determine the extent of Amazon’s power over its suppliers. All three merchants fielded questions on how much of their revenue comes from Amazon compared with other online platforms. Many sellers get 90% or more of their sales from Amazon, making them vulnerable to the company’s demands and abrupt, unexplained changes in its policy.
More Amazon news
Shanghai is still under lockdown. Is Guangzhou next?
A shift in China’s COVID-19 policy remains a distant prospect Shanghai is easing its two-week lockdown, but most of its businesses still are closed. The redirection of goods is becoming more difficult and expensive as cargo facilities in other Chinese cities are now...
Amazon will let sellers build independent online stores
Bloomberg reports that Amazon is working on a product that that will let retailers run independent stores. The project hasn’t been announced officially yet, but former company executives told Bloomberg, that Amazon has been working on it since late 2017 and could...
How can New Year holidays in the US and Canada affect cargo delivery dates
Customs and shipping companies working schedule during the New Year Important information for more accurate forecasting of cargo processing speed in the US and Canada during the New Year holidays. Please note that Customs and shipping companies will not work during...