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 invests in a self-driving car startup
Driverless system for Amazon vehicles Amazon could use this technology for self-driving cargo and courier vehicles, reducing its need for human drivers and speeding up delivery times Amazon is clearly interested in autonomy between its delivery drone...
Should you avoid middleman companies?
Deliveries from China for Amazon FBA Speaking of delivery services from China for Amazon FBA, which qualities a middleman company must possess to add value to the shipping process? Many foreign companies, operating in China, in reality turn out to be...
Amazon knows everything about you!
Amazon’s Big New Business Amazon knows where people live, what credit cards they use, how old their children are and even if they have a cold right now According to The New York Times, ads sold by Amazon, once a limited offering at the company, can now be...
