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FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

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Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#71

Post by Sakos »

prepend wrote: post #59
capital_guy wrote: post #23

I am amazed to see people defending AMZN in these threads. They are so obviously monopolistic with such a plethora of problems with the way the treat consumers, workers, businesses, and the planet. More power to the FTC -- just wish they had taken these actions sooner.

I don’t think I’m defending Amazon so much as noting that Amazon does not have a monopoly on retail or even e-commerce. I don’t think issues should be picking sides so much as seeking the truth. Amazon had 38% of online retail market share [0] and only 9% of total retail market share [1]. So I think it’s going to be hard to show antitrust violations without some price collusion. [0] https://www.statista.com/statistic…

You don't need a monopoly to engage in anti-competitive behavior. Ffs. Antitrust isn't necessarily about monopolies. How is that so hard to understand?

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#72

Post by subsubzero »

prepend wrote: post #59
capital_guy wrote: post #23

I am amazed to see people defending AMZN in these threads. They are so obviously monopolistic with such a plethora of problems with the way the treat consumers, workers, businesses, and the planet. More power to the FTC -- just wish they had taken these actions sooner.

I don’t think I’m defending Amazon so much as noting that Amazon does not have a monopoly on retail or even e-commerce. I don’t think issues should be picking sides so much as seeking the truth. Amazon had 38% of online retail market share [0] and only 9% of total retail market share [1]. So I think it’s going to be hard to show antitrust violations without some price collusion. [0] https://www.statista.com/statistic…

Agree, (these are not the droids you are looking for). Look to Google, Meta, and the telecoms as they are the most eggregious and abuse their market position blatantly.

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#73

Post by bitterspeak »

api wrote: post #68
prepend wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think I’m defending Amazon so much as noting that Amazon does not have a monopoly on retail or even e-commerce. I don’t think issues should be picking sides so much as seeking the truth. Amazon had 38% of online retail market share [0] and only 9% of total retail market share [1]. So I think it’s going to be hard to show antitrust violations without some price collusion. [0] https://www.statista.com/statistic…

Amazon has a near-monopoly at this point on online retail in the USA, mostly owing to their logistics network and ability to deliver so easily combined with the one stop shop advantage.

Being good at something does not make you a monopoly. They are not actively blocking other online retail platforms. This is not a statement to defend Amazon but the fact that I prefer Amazon for its features (like same day delivery) is just plain capitalism. The customers have a choice to buy from a retailer they prefer and the important thing is that I still have an option to choose where I make my purchases.

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#74

Post by aaronblohowiak »

Sakos wrote: post #71
prepend wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think I’m defending Amazon so much as noting that Amazon does not have a monopoly on retail or even e-commerce. I don’t think issues should be picking sides so much as seeking the truth. Amazon had 38% of online retail market share [0] and only 9% of total retail market share [1]. So I think it’s going to be hard to show antitrust violations without some price collusion. [0] https://www.statista.com/statistic…

You don't need a monopoly to engage in anti-competitive behavior. Ffs. Antitrust isn't necessarily about monopolies. How is that so hard to understand?

The OP of the thread you are replying in claimed “so obviously monopolistic”…

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#75

Post by [deleted] »

gochi wrote: post #34
capital_guy wrote: post #23

I am amazed to see people defending AMZN in these threads. They are so obviously monopolistic with such a plethora of problems with the way the treat consumers, workers, businesses, and the planet. More power to the FTC -- just wish they had taken these actions sooner.

I also don't really get the desire to defend them even if you were a loyal fan. Outside of AWS, none of their services are good anymore and have deteriorated. The only reason people think Prime is even valuable is because of the quantity > quality overriding people's rational. Amazon (the storefront) has turned into Aliexpress but with the shoddiest random brands ever like XYGHY selling you a product they're dropship…

[deleted]

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#76

Post by EA-3167 »

prepend wrote: post #59
capital_guy wrote: post #23

I am amazed to see people defending AMZN in these threads. They are so obviously monopolistic with such a plethora of problems with the way the treat consumers, workers, businesses, and the planet. More power to the FTC -- just wish they had taken these actions sooner.

I don’t think I’m defending Amazon so much as noting that Amazon does not have a monopoly on retail or even e-commerce. I don’t think issues should be picking sides so much as seeking the truth. Amazon had 38% of online retail market share [0] and only 9% of total retail market share [1]. So I think it’s going to be hard to show antitrust violations without some price collusion. [0] https://www.statista.com/statistic…

This antitrust action isn't about their retail sector though... I can only assume the many people acting without that understanding here didn't read the article.

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#77

Post by willcipriano »

0xParlay wrote: post #69
lisasays wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anitrust actions do not require the presence of a monopoly. Rather, they addresses situations where companies unreasonably exert power to lessen competition. The idea is to prevent monopolies from forming in the first place.

Can they save me from Comcast first? I’d be curious how that backlog refinement meeting goes. > See that filter that orders priority by realized value? Remove it and order by campaign contributions

Translated from non incriminating corporate speak to plain English:

"We have to been seen doing something, the election cycle is fast approaching. What if we go after Comcast?"

"They gave a important senators son a no show job so they are off limits for the time being"

"Amazon?"

"Let me check, actually they haven't done much for us lately, let's shake them down, if they give my cousin a few million for consulting we give them a small fine, if not we give them the law"

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#78

Post by scrum-treats »

pacetherace wrote: post #43

I sometimes do find different prices for same products with amazon pushing me to buy product with prime shipping. If you use an extension like Honey, it will warn you that a product is available for lower price without Prime.

If you have time, consider taking a picture of that and submitting it to FTC (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/), in support of https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/....

Re: FTC reportedly plans major antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

#79

Post by AnthonyMouse »

totallywrong wrote: post #54

How about fake reviews? That's a whole industry deceiving people with Amazon's blessing. I can't even fathom the economic impact of the practice over the years. And another one: Amazon Basics. Free market research with the data from your paying sellers, to then enter a market with a product you know will sell, in a position of dominance. Much like they do with open source in AWS. They should get hit with billions, bu…

> Free market research with the data from your paying sellers, to then enter a market with a product you know will sell, in a position of dominance.

But these are the things that are pro-competitive. So now they make batteries. They're not putting Energizer out of business, they can still sell through Walmart or local convenience stores etc., and some customers still buy Energizer batteries on Amazon, but now customers have a new option for batteries from a well-known brand with lower prices. Obviously the competitors don't like this -- they're losing business to new competition -- but new competition is good.

Where you run into problems is where companies leverage a dominant market position in one area into abusive practices in another. So for example, if Amazon had a monopoly on retail, they could demand huge margins for reselling a competitor's batteries, or just stop carrying competing batteries and charge high prices for their own because customers have no other option.

But they have no such market power. If they tried to charge significantly more than competing retailers for basic commodities, customers would just buy them from whoever has the best price.

Compare this to, for example, mobile app stores where customers in practice have one store provided by the phone platform and if that store charges high margins or doesn't carry something they want, they have to buy a different device for hundreds of dollars, over a $1 app. Also, there are only two platforms of note so if you dislike any practice shared by both of them you're out of luck, whereas in an ordinary retail market there are a zillion competing retailers.

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