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
China Extends New Year Holidays to Fight Coronavirus
Coronavirus Impact on Shipping from China China has announced the extension of New Year holidays until February 10-14 in order to stop the disease outbreak. In Hubei province businesses are not to reopen until at least February 14, according to People’s...
President Trump Delivers A Serious Blow to Amazon
Trump administration cracks down on counterfeitsPresident Trump has shifted liability for counterfeits from third parties to platforms, and that's disastrous news for AmazonLaw enforcement officials will immediately start to identify cases where...
Amazon Eases IPI Metric for FBA Sellers
The majority of FBA sellers will get a higher IPI score Amazon is making it slightly easier for sellers who use its FBA fulfillment service by easing standards for the Inventory Performance Index (IPI) Amazon announced: “As of January 20, 2020, your...
