Summary
Newly revealed documents show that Amazon pressured sellers to keep their prices on other websites, like Walmart and Target, the same or higher than on Amazon. California's attorney general alleges this practice hurts competition and raises prices for buyers. Amazon denies these accusations and calls the claims false.
Key Facts
- California sued Amazon in 2022 for allegedly forcing sellers to raise prices on competing sites.
- The evidence includes internal Amazon emails, testimonies, and presentations recently unsealed by a court.
- Amazon monitored sellers’ prices on other websites and took action if prices were lower elsewhere.
- Sellers who priced their products lower on other sites lost access to Amazon’s “Buy Box,” reducing their sales drastically.
- One seller lost Buy Box access for pricing an item just one cent lower on Walmart than on Amazon.
- Some sellers changed codes or raised prices on other sites to avoid Amazon penalties.
- California's attorney general says these actions break the law and hurt consumers by keeping prices high.
- Amazon denies wrongdoing and plans to defend itself in a trial set for January 2027.
