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
Amazon is working on a device that will read human emotions
Amazon brings sci-fi tech to life Amazon is developing a voice-activated wearable device that can recognize human emotional state, turning Sci-fi tech into reality The wrist-worn gadget is described as a health and wellness product in internal documents...
Amazon offers a 75% discount on storage fees for best-selling items
Amazon asks sellers to send it more stuff Amazon is offering its third-party sellers discounts on storage fees as part of its plan to fulfill speedy shipping promises. According to Business Insider, Amazon now offers a 75% discount on storage fees at its...
Amazon is using astrology to sell its products
Amazon is using horoscopes for targeted marketing Amazon has been shipping monthly horoscopes to its Prime members in its Insider newsletter. Amazon states on its horoscopes page that readers can consult the readings to identify “which Prime benefits are...