An Amazon vice president reportedly tried to persuade third-party sellers to reject a historic law that questioned the power of major tech giants, but was quickly rejected by many sellers who said they supported the law.
CNBC reports that Amazon is increasingly concerned about the high-tech antitrust reform debated in Congress. As a result, a senior Amazon executive contacted third-party sellers in an online forum used by many to discuss the challenges they face as Amazon sellers. But the initiative backfired: many vendors said they supported the law.
(via Getty Images INA FASSBENDER/AFP)
Amazon Delivery Driver (PATRICK T. FALLON / Getty)
Dharmesh Mehta, VP of Global Affiliate Sales at Amazon, posted a message on the Amazon Seller Central Forum on Thursday. In his post, he urged merchants to contact their local senators to oppose the US Online Innovation and Choice Act (S.2992), which was passed by a Senate committee in January.
“As we stated in our previous communications with you over the past year, including Congress, S.2992, the American Online Innovation and Choice Act, Amazon’s ability to manage services in the marketplace and, as a result, your business capability in our Store will be sold,” Mehta wrote. Recent public comments indicate that they are considering voting for S.2992 later this month. I want to make sure you know about this law and what you can do to prevent harm from happening to you.”
Mehta directed the vendors to a website with a form they could use to contact their senators. Hundreds of Amazon sellers responded to Mehta’s post, and many were unconvinced by Amazon’s arguments that they were illegal.
“Yes, I object to Amazon’s ban on undercutting, manipulating the buying space, and restricting certain listings that unfairly prevent me from selling a product,” one commenter said sarcastically. “Yes, I’m writing to my senator right now.”
Another said, “anyone who knows about the seller will support the massive action taken against Amazon in the antitrust arena. Personally, I’m sick of the blessed management writing Amazon has given us. We’re not stupid and we can read and think for ourselves.”
Amazon has openly opposed a bill that would prevent it and other tech companies from subsidizing their products. Last week, Amazon published a blog post arguing that the law would cast “the two things American consumers love most about Amazon: the wide range and low price” and the company’s two-day Prime delivery service.
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Source: Breitbart
