Yes. If it was actually seriously enforced though. A lot of companies would go down for it. And people would complain about Government interference in the markets.
Every time you "comparison shopped" online, you were looking at prices that were already rigged.
Here's what happened:
Amazon would monitor prices on Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Chewy in real time. The second a competitor listed a product cheaper than Amazon, they'd contact the brand directly and tell them to "fix it."
And the exact emails are now PUBLIC.
Amazon sent Levi's links to two Walmart listings with the subject line "styles of concern." They basically said the prices on Walmart are too low and we have a problem.
The next day, Levi's responded: "I talked to Walmart and they have partnered with us to take Easy Khaki Classic fit back up to ladder SPP price, $29.99 immediately."
Levi's literally called Walmart and told them to raise the price. Because Amazon told Levi's to make the call.
Walmart complied. Then Amazon matched the HIGHER price.
Both retailers ended up charging more. The customer paid extra. Nobody competed.
Same playbook with Hanes:
Amazon sent them links showing Target and Walmart prices were lower. Hanes confirmed they "reached out to Target and Walmart to have the prices increased."
Target increased the prices. Walmart increased the prices. Amazon kept their margins.
But it gets even worse...
Amazon told Allergan (the company that makes eye drops) that their product was "suppressed" on Amazon because it was cheaper on another site.
Allergan responded: "Walmart got their price back up to $16.99." Amazon then unsuppressed the listing.
They did this with pet treats on Chewy. Furniture on Home Depot. Products across dozens of categories spanning YEARS.
The mechanism is simple but terrifying:
If you're a brand and you sell cheaper on Walmart than on Amazon, Amazon suppresses your product, removes you from the Buy Box, buries you in search results, and effectively makes you invisible to 300 million customers.
Brands can't afford that. So they call Walmart and Target and say "raise your prices or we'll lose our Amazon listings."
Walmart and Target comply because they need the brand's products.
Amazon captures 40 cents of every dollar spent online in America. That gives them the leverage to set prices across THE ENTIRE internet. Not just their own platform.
So turns out, you were never comparison shopping.
You were looking at a coordinated price floor set by Amazon through backroom phone calls between brands and their competitors.
"Amazon is working to make your life more unaffordable."
3 separate antitrust trials are now scheduled for 2027. The FTC has its own case. 18 states plus the DOJ are piling on.
This is literally happening during the WORST affordability crisis in a generation. Groceries up 25% since 2020. Housing unaffordable. Wages flat.
And the largest ecommerce company on Earth has been secretly coordinating with brands to make sure you can't find a cheaper price ANYWHERE.
Lots of sites have a "see price in cart" because you're not allowed to advertise a lower price, but you can still charge whatever final price you want.
As a manufacturer, I can tell Amazon/Walmart/Target they can't advertise the pants I make for less than $29.99 and if Amazon catches Walmart cheating that policy, they can tattle on Walmart to me and I can make Walmart fix it.
No wonder when I comparison shop, companies prices are no different than Amazon. Happens a lot. Should be illegal. I do buy from Amazon and this aggravates me. Amazon needs to be held accountable.
It is deeper than just that. I research items for weeks before I buy. Amazon will show higher prices and other than previously viewed items the longer you look IMPE
How about our government looking into other price manipulators? Like my local electrical company charging me a service fee of 40 bucks. Why? Shouldn't their fees be included in the kilowatt hour they charge? Insurance companies adding fees to their premiums are unfair, IMHO.
Don’t buy anything just food. That’s why now I see target prices very high in the grocery area. It is used to be cheap now it getting way expensive like Publix
I've noticed, in the garden dept at Home Depot, that the prices in store and Amazon are exact or within 5 cents.
Alaska Fish Fertilizer, as one example. Almost $30 now. 3-4 yrs ago it was $18.
I guess SARS-CoV-2 killed all the available fish to be put thru tbe blender. (Bass-o-Matic)
collusion for price fixing? isn't there a law against that?
Yes. If it was actually seriously enforced though. A lot of companies would go down for it. And people would complain about Government interference in the markets.
Every time you "comparison shopped" online, you were looking at prices that were already rigged.
Here's what happened:
Amazon would monitor prices on Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Chewy in real time. The second a competitor listed a product cheaper than Amazon, they'd contact the brand directly and tell them to "fix it."
And the exact emails are now PUBLIC.
Amazon sent Levi's links to two Walmart listings with the subject line "styles of concern." They basically said the prices on Walmart are too low and we have a problem.
The next day, Levi's responded: "I talked to Walmart and they have partnered with us to take Easy Khaki Classic fit back up to ladder SPP price, $29.99 immediately."
Levi's literally called Walmart and told them to raise the price. Because Amazon told Levi's to make the call.
Walmart complied. Then Amazon matched the HIGHER price.
Both retailers ended up charging more. The customer paid extra. Nobody competed.
Same playbook with Hanes:
Amazon sent them links showing Target and Walmart prices were lower. Hanes confirmed they "reached out to Target and Walmart to have the prices increased."
Target increased the prices. Walmart increased the prices. Amazon kept their margins.
But it gets even worse...
Amazon told Allergan (the company that makes eye drops) that their product was "suppressed" on Amazon because it was cheaper on another site.
Allergan responded: "Walmart got their price back up to $16.99." Amazon then unsuppressed the listing.
They did this with pet treats on Chewy. Furniture on Home Depot. Products across dozens of categories spanning YEARS.
The mechanism is simple but terrifying:
If you're a brand and you sell cheaper on Walmart than on Amazon, Amazon suppresses your product, removes you from the Buy Box, buries you in search results, and effectively makes you invisible to 300 million customers.
Brands can't afford that. So they call Walmart and Target and say "raise your prices or we'll lose our Amazon listings."
Walmart and Target comply because they need the brand's products.
Amazon captures 40 cents of every dollar spent online in America. That gives them the leverage to set prices across THE ENTIRE internet. Not just their own platform.
So turns out, you were never comparison shopping.
You were looking at a coordinated price floor set by Amazon through backroom phone calls between brands and their competitors.
"Amazon is working to make your life more unaffordable."
3 separate antitrust trials are now scheduled for 2027. The FTC has its own case. 18 states plus the DOJ are piling on.
This is literally happening during the WORST affordability crisis in a generation. Groceries up 25% since 2020. Housing unaffordable. Wages flat.
And the largest ecommerce company on Earth has been secretly coordinating with brands to make sure you can't find a cheaper price ANYWHERE.
"Competition" in retail is just a fantasy.
https://nitter.net/Ric_RTP/status/2046578708035604945#m
This is kind of not a thing.
Lots of sites have a "see price in cart" because you're not allowed to advertise a lower price, but you can still charge whatever final price you want.
As a manufacturer, I can tell Amazon/Walmart/Target they can't advertise the pants I make for less than $29.99 and if Amazon catches Walmart cheating that policy, they can tattle on Walmart to me and I can make Walmart fix it.
Major companies are leveraging their market share and cooperating/Forcing each other to jack up prices?
I am shocked. Shocked! Well not that shocked.
Pretty much was already on my bingo card too.
It's amazing how many ways they have of stealing from us...
These people are way imaginative.
No wonder when I comparison shop, companies prices are no different than Amazon. Happens a lot. Should be illegal. I do buy from Amazon and this aggravates me. Amazon needs to be held accountable.
This is crazy. Pricing manipulation. Is this even legal?
No it is not. Does that stop them? No.
It is deeper than just that. I research items for weeks before I buy. Amazon will show higher prices and other than previously viewed items the longer you look IMPE
Higher on Apple computer with the first search , then it climbs.
Do airlines & hotels next.
How about our government looking into other price manipulators? Like my local electrical company charging me a service fee of 40 bucks. Why? Shouldn't their fees be included in the kilowatt hour they charge? Insurance companies adding fees to their premiums are unfair, IMHO.
This is what Ai is being used for.
This is getting interesting.
Don’t buy anything just food. That’s why now I see target prices very high in the grocery area. It is used to be cheap now it getting way expensive like Publix
This is sick.
I've noticed, in the garden dept at Home Depot, that the prices in store and Amazon are exact or within 5 cents. Alaska Fish Fertilizer, as one example. Almost $30 now. 3-4 yrs ago it was $18.
I guess SARS-CoV-2 killed all the available fish to be put thru tbe blender. (Bass-o-Matic)