economy
Newly unsealed records reveal Amazon’s price-fixing tactics, California attorney general claims
Exclusive: A trove of previously redacted documents was filed as part of the tech giant’s anti-trust battle with the state of California. Amazon denies it engages in price-fixing
TL;DR
- Newly unsealed court documents reveal California's allegations that Amazon pressured independent sellers to raise prices on competitor sites like Walmart and Target.
- Amazon allegedly used automated tools to track competitor pricing and suppressed sales on its platform for sellers offering lower prices elsewhere.
- Sellers testified that their sales plummeted on Amazon when products were cheaper on other sites, forcing them to raise prices on competitors.
- The Buy Box feature on Amazon was allegedly withheld from sellers whose prices were lower on other platforms.
- Amazon denies the allegations, claiming its practices incentivize competition and benefit customers.
- The trial in California's lawsuit against Amazon is scheduled for January 19, 2027.