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Euro MP condemns retail giant Amazon for banning small businesses from selling on its site

Euro MP condemns retail giant Amazon for banning small businesses from selling on its site.

 

Catherine Stihler MEP slammed retail giant Amazon for banning any company from doing business on its site if they sell goods for a cheaper price elsewhere. 

 

'I'm asking the European Commission to look in to this as Amazon is potentially breaking competition rules.'  Ms Stihler, Member of the powerful Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee said.

 

'Consumers will suffer from a poorer choice of goods.  If sellers aren't allowed to vary their prices, they will stop offering their goods to Amazon, making it harder for consumers to find what they want.  This is a backwards step for Amazon who can't get away with treating their sellers in this disgraceful way.'

 

Amazon charges its sellers 15% of each sale plus a monthly fee of £30.  Sometimes it's cheaper for sellers to sell through their own website because there aren't any fees attached, however, access to consumers on Amazon can often mean a quicker sale.  

 

'Amazon is distorting the market.  They are placing sellers in an impossible situation, preventing them from getting the best margin.  They're inflating prices using bullying tactics on small businesses which are facing difficult economic conditions.'    

 

Amazon's terms and conditions state sellers must 'maintain parity between the terms on which you offer or sell each item through Amazon'.