Amazon fined €10M for unfair purchase practices
July 8, 2024
Amazon pre-selects recurring purchases, limiting consumer choice, resulting in a €10 million ($10.84 million) fine by Italy.
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) recently fined two Amazon group companies, Amazon Services Europe S.à r.l. and Amazon EU S.à r.l., €10 million ($10.84 million) jointly and severally. The investigation revealed that Amazon implements an unfair commercial practice by pre-selecting the “recurring purchase” option for many products on https://www.amazon.it, rather than the “one-time purchase” option.
This pre-selection affects both items sold directly by Amazon and those offered by third-party sellers on the marketplace, significantly limiting consumers’ freedom of choice. The default selection of the recurring purchase option may lead consumers to make periodic purchases unintentionally, restricting their ability to make free and informed decisions. This practice was found to be contrary to the standards of professional diligence expected from a major operator like Amazon.
Additionally, the AGCM had challenged the pre-selection of a paid fast delivery option. In response, Amazon has committed to pre-selecting only the free delivery option in the future and will compensate consumers who contacted Customer Service in 2023 to complain about this issue. These commitments were accepted by the AGCM as part of the resolution process.
Categories : World Focus
