India Orders Investigation Into Alleged Anti-Competitive Practices by Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart (techcrunch.com) 8
India ordered a large-scale investigation into Flipkart and Amazon India on Monday after a retail trade group alleged that the e-commerce giants were indulging in anti-competitive practices to gain foothold in the country. From a report: Competition Commission of India (CCI), the local antitrust body, noted four concerns including the arrangements between smartphone vendors and e-commerce platforms to sell certain handsets exclusively online, and e-commerce firms apparently giving preferential treatment to certain sellers, and said these allegations merit an investigation. The CCI also ordered Director General to investigate whether Amazon India and Walmart are offering deep discounts on their marketplaces and promoting their own private labels.
3: ...profit! (Score:2)
Drive everybody else out of business, squeeze your suppliers down to zero or negligible margins, and 3: ...profit!
Re: (Score:2)
Drive everybody else out of business, squeeze your suppliers down to zero or negligible margins, and 3: ...profit!
Well, it worked pretty well for Walmart
Re: (Score:2)
So what anti-competitive practices does Amazon indulge in ?
Just being very good and competitive, is not 'anti-competitive'. As a consumer, I have found Amazon to be a very very competitive service in terms of availability, shipping and returns.
Which way do you want it? (Score:2)
The big, bad ruthless retailers do squeeze out the smaller retailers, the mom and pops with higher margins and local affiliation with the market.
The BBR mega-retailers also cut the cost of things dramatically, especially for the poor and middle class... perhaps so they can still afford to work in retail.
In India, it is likely this will develop into protectionist behavior that benefits a few rich citizens at the expense of the many.
Oh noes! (Score:2)
The CCI also ordered Director General to investigate whether Amazon India and Walmart are offering deep discounts on their marketplaces and promoting their own private labels.
Oh no, not deep discounts! Will these depraved westerners stop at nothing???
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Putting mom-and-pop shops out of business could have large political consequences. Our "rust belt" problems resulted in a polarizing nationalistic President who enjoys stirring the pot.
Reduction of such stores is probably inevitable, but going down that route too fast is a political gamble for a nation.
Damn commies! (Score:1)