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BIRA Files £1.1bn Lawsuit Against Amazon The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) is launching a £1.1 billion lawsuit against Amazon, accusing it of misusing its members' proprietary data for competitive gains and manipulating the "Buy Box" feature to favor its products. This legal action marks the UK's largest collective retail claim, covering grievances from October 2015 to the present, sparked by Amazon's significant market influence which forces small retailers to rely on its platform despite high commission fees and now, alleged data misuse. This case unfolds amid ongoing scrutiny over Amazon's market practices, including a recent settlement with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority to avoid a full investigation into similar issues. https://lnkd.in/d95zXH3Q Platform: TechCrunch Author: Ingrid Lunden #commerce #amazon #data #dataprivacy #datacollection #personaldata #retailers #lawsuit #dataabuse #uk

Amazon has recently been fined in Poland for misleading consumers regarding sales contracts, with a hefty penalty of nearly $8 million imposed by the country's consumer and competition watchdog, UOKiK. The fine stems from deceptive design elements on Amazon's online marketplace that create a false sense of urgency, leading shoppers to believe certain products are more readily available than they actually are. This investigation was initiated in September 2021 following complaints from consumers, with a formal probe launched in February 2023. One of the key findings was that Amazon does not consider a purchase as the conclusion of a sales contract until shipment information is sent, a detail not clearly communicated to shoppers. The deceptive practices highlighted by UOKiK include using dark pattern design techniques such as displaying critical information like contract conclusion details in a less noticeable manner, such as using a grey font on a white background. Moreover, messaging on sales buttons could mislead consumers into believing they have concluded a contract when they have not. Complaints also included delayed cancellation information and inaccurate product availability data, such as using countdown clocks and listing items as in stock when they were not readily available for shipping. UOKiK's president criticized these practices as dark patterns, which put undue pressure on consumers to make hasty purchasing decisions. Despite the fine, Amazon has announced plans to appeal the sanction. The company emphasized its commitment to fast and reliable delivery, claiming to have collaborated with UOKiK and proposed amendments to improve the customer experience on Amazon.pl, its Polish marketplace. Amazon asserts that it strictly follows legal standards in all countries of operation and disagrees with UOKiK's assessment and penalty. #Amazon #UOKiK #Fine #DeceptiveDesign #DarkPatterns #ConsumerRights #ECommerce #Poland #CustomerExperience https://lnkd.in/eNbhbS7h

A government agency is now pressuring Amazon to improve transparency by sharing recall information directly with customers. This move aims to enhance consumer safety and ensure that shoppers are promptly informed about potentially hazardous products. By holding Amazon accountable, the goal is to make it easier for customers to stay informed and protect themselves from unsafe items. What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments below. #ConsumerSafety #RecallAlert #Amazon #GovernmentAction #RetailTransparency

It’s surprising to me that it took this long The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has ruled that Amazon is legally responsible for overseeing the recall of hazardous products sold by third-party vendors on its platform. The decision categorizes Amazon as a “distributor” under federal safety law, making it liable for products that fail to meet safety standards. 400k dangerous items were deemed dangerous by the CPSC! Wild. Apparently issuing credits to customers for faulty/hazerdous/dangerous items were insufficient in ensuring public safety. Again, surprising it took this long. Okay, so why should sellers care about this? 1. Increased Accountability: Amazon’s heightened responsibility for product safety means third-party sellers must ensure their products meet federal safety standards to avoid removal from the platform and potential legal consequences 2. Consumer Trust and Reputation: Selling safe, compliant products helps maintain consumer trust. If Amazon’s customers repeatedly encounter unsafe products from third-party sellers, it could damage the reputation of both the sellers and Amazon, leading to decreased sales and customer loyalty. And nobody wants that! 3. Operational Impacts: Amazon may implement stricter vetting processes and more rigorous enforcement of safety regulations for products listed by third-party sellers - which could lead to increased operational costs and the need for sellers to invest more in quality control and compliance measures. I guess just be prepared? 4. Potential Financial Costs: If a product is found to be hazardous, sellers may face financial burdens associated with recalls, such as reimbursing customers, covering return shipping costs, and possibly facing fines or legal fees. Ensuring product safety upfront can help mitigate these potential costs. Again, just stay ahead of it. 5. Market Access: Compliance with safety standards ensures that sellers can continue to operate on Amazon. Non-compliance could result in the removal of your listings, impacting your ability to reach the large customer base Amazon offers globally. Bottom line… ensure your products are safe and compliant with federal standards to avoid being in trouble on the platform, but more importantly KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS SAFE. https://lnkd.in/ggMDGSUG #ecommerce #marketplaces #amazon #safety #compliance

Observing that Amazon does not have an appropriate grievance redressal mechanism and has "one-sided oppressive" sale terms, a consumer commission here has imposed a fine of Rs 35,000 on the online seller and one of its retailers for deficiencies in services. The commission has also directed Amazon to provide a foolproof and transparent grievance redressal mechanism to customers. #retail #retailnews #latestnews #Etailing #Amazon #ConsumerComission #AmazonFine #Ecommerce #AmazonSellerService #ApparioRetailPrivateLimited

Some must be wishing they could just recall the owner's manual. Well, this product-safety loophole is now closed for Amazon. The ecommerce giant can now be held responsible for dangerous products sold on its platform. That becomes a monumental task when you consider that more than 400,000 defective products sold on the platform now must be recalled by Amazon or face legal consequences. This molehill is now a mountain. Amazon's retail dominance stems from a dual strategy: operating as both a traditional retailer, purchasing and reselling products, and a marketplace platform, enabling third-party sellers to offer their goods to Amazon customers. That's significant when you realize more than 60% of sales in Amazon’s stores come from independent sellers. But it also comes with downsides. The massive selection hasn't necessarily included as much vetting of a product as a traditional retailer might do. Amazon is now facing the music. We don't have a plan for this. How Amazon approaches product safety and recalls will have implications. The ruling requires Amazon to submit a plan to the commission outlining how it will inform customers and the public about hazardous products and offer refunds or replacements. The commission will then review and approve the proposal. Despite its plans to appeal the ruling, Amazon must now rethink about how it monitors and manages its third-party seller marketplace. This is especially true of foreign products, which are found through the site. Now, that's a total recall https://lnkd.in/gXbe5ves #amazon #productsafety #recall #ecommerce #onlineshopping #consumers #legal

£1 Billion Lawsuit Against Amazon: What It Means for Businesses The news is buzzing about the record-breaking £1 billion lawsuit against Amazon by the Bira - British Independent Retailers Association. This lawsuit, alleging data misuse and manipulation of the "Buy Box," has major implications for businesses everywhere. Why This Matters Fair Competition: Is Amazon using seller data to unfairly compete? The BIRA lawsuit aims to ensure a level playing field for all sellers on the platform. Data Privacy: Do businesses have a right to control their data? This case could set a precedent for data privacy rights within online marketplaces. Global Impact: The outcome could influence similar lawsuits against Amazon or other platforms worldwide. Possible Ramifications Tech Regulation: Increased scrutiny on Big Tech could lead to stricter regulations and fairer algorithms. Buy Box Transparency: The lawsuit could force changes to how the Buy Box prioritizes products. Evolving Landscape: A shift in power dynamics could lead to a more fragmented e-commerce landscape. Stay Informed The BIRA lawsuit is a major development in online retail. Its outcome will impact businesses of all sizes. #ecommerce #amazon #retail #lawsuit #competition

🚨 Breaking News 🚨 Amazon Faces 10 Million Euro Fine for Unfair Trade Practices! The Italian antitrust authority AGCM has imposed a hefty fine of 10 million euros on ecommerce giant Amazon for unfair trade practices. This fine targets two of Amazon's subsidiaries: Amazon Services Europe and Amazon EU. This isn't the first time Amazon has come under scrutiny in Europe. In Germany, the Federal Cartel Office (FCO) has investigated Amazon's activities, resulting in a significant fine of 746 million euros imposed by the European Union in 2021. Additionally, in the same year, AGCM levied a record penalty of 1.13 billion euros against Amazon. This penalty was associated with Fulfilment by Amazon, which was found to have abused its market dominance and disadvantaged competitors, according to the regulator. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dqhkZTPm ........ #amazon #ebiztoday #ecommerce #ecommercebusiness #europe

If you’ve been selling on Amazon for a while, you know that the platform is constantly evolving—and the 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗚𝗣𝗦𝗥) is just one of the latest in a series of critical updates that apply to Amazon sellers in the European Union (EU), including Northern Ireland, under the Northern Ireland Protocol. With the December 13, 2024 deadline approaching, sellers need to take swift action to ensure their products comply with the new safety requirements. Failing to adapt can lead to account suspensions, product delistings, or worse. 🎯 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗣𝗦𝗥 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀: 🔍 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻: It's mandatory to have a Responsible Person established within the EU for your non-food products. Make sure to label your products with their contact information in one of the EU's official languages. 🏷️ 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Label your products with the manufacturer's contact details and, if applicable, the importer's information. Ensure the visibility of this information on both physical products and online listings. 🛡️ 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Adhere to GPSR and existing labelling requirements. Ensure each product carries a unique identifier for easy identification. Provide necessary warning and safety information, both physically and in online listings. ⚠️ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿—get your safety documents, product details, and compliance strategies in place NOW. As Amazon continues to evolve, so must sellers to keep the momentum going and avoid unnecessary setbacks. #AmazonSeller #Q42024 #GPSR #AmazonUpdates #ProductSafety #Compliance #Ecommerce #BusinessGrowth

Interesting issue - from the article: “Amazon sells 353 million different products, most of which are from third-party sellers. Let’s just say not every one of those 353 million products is the end result of perfect engineering. But who should be held liable when a faulty or dangerous product finds its way onto porches and doorsteps and into homes — Amazon, or the third-party merchant? Twenty years into its run as an e-commerce giant, the answer is still being sorted out.”