Amazon Must Face US Nationwide Class Action Over Third-Party Sales (reuters.com)
- Reference: 0178986292
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/09/03/0217244/amazon-must-face-us-nationwide-class-action-over-third-party-sales
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/amazon-must-face-us-nationwide-class-action-over-third-party-sales-2025-09-02/
> Amazon.com must face a class action on behalf of hundreds of millions of U.S. consumers over claims that the online retail giant [1]overcharged for products sold by third-party sellers , a federal judge in Seattle has ruled. U.S. District Judge John Chun in [2]an order (PDF) unsealed on Friday certified a nationwide class involving 288 million customers and billions of transactions, marking one of the largest-ever in the United States.
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> The class includes buyers in the United States who purchased five or more new goods from third-party sellers on Amazon since May 26, 2017. The consumers' 2021 lawsuit said Amazon violated antitrust law by restricting third-party sellers from offering their products for lower prices elsewhere on rival platforms while they are also for sale on Amazon. Amazon's policies have allowed the company to impose inflated fees on sellers, causing shoppers to pay higher prices for purchases, the lawsuit said. Amazon has denied any wrongdoing. It has already appealed Chun's class certification order, which was first issued under seal on Aug. 6.
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> Amazon argued that the class was too large to be manageable and that the plaintiffs failed to show its alleged conduct had a widespread effect. Amazon also said that since 2019 it has not used a pricing program that the plaintiffs challenged. Chun found there was no evidence at this stage that the size of the class was overbroad. Other federal courts had certified class actions with millions or hundreds of millions of class members, the judge said.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/amazon-must-face-us-nationwide-class-action-over-third-party-sales-2025-09-02/
[2] https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/zdvxkjgdgpx/DeCoster%20v%20Amazon%20-%20class%20certification%20order%20-%2020250829.pdf
Jeff Bozos can't have it both ways (Score:4, Insightful)
> 288 million customers and billions of transactions, marking one of the largest-ever in the United States
and
> Amazon argued that the class was too large to be manageable and that the plaintiffs failed to show its alleged conduct had a widespread effect
So the "class was too large" to have "a widespread effect"? Is that REALLY the defense you want to run with Jeffy? Smells to me like desperation.
evil contracts (Score:2)
> restricting third-party sellers from offering their products for lower prices elsewhere on rival platforms
This is simply unfair an needs to end.
Re: (Score:2)
Let the seller beware - they agreed to the terms of the contract to sell on Amazon.
Having said that, the reality is that most of the third party sellers wouldn't have ever been noticed as a seller if they weren't on Amazon. Sure, google has a shopping tab, and I've looked there occasionally. But I don't look often. If I'm looking for something really expensive, it might be worth a search to see if I can find a cheaper seller that looks reputable. But for cheap items that aren't even worth going to try to f
Re: (Score:1)
Invisible hand bullshit. A choice that is not a choice is not a choice.
A lot of people! (Score:2)
How much can amazon afford to give every single person on earth?
Re: (Score:2)
Based on current calculations, if we bled Amazon of its total *net* worth, that would give every current living human just under $300. That's almost enough for a happy meal and a full tank of gas!
The monopolists' creed (Score:3)
> Amazon argued that the class was too large to be manageable
"We're too big to fail!"
"We're too big to sue!"
I say "too big" has failed.
Superclass: Bitten by a radioactive class! (Score:2)
Neato! When the payout comes, what are you gonna do with YOUR nickel?
Who cares. (Score:2)
The story immediately above this one shows that even when supermassive companies make it to the courts they get at most a slap on the wrist along with a nasty written letter asking them to not do it again.
Re: (Score:2)
too big to punish
Too large to be manageable? (Score:2)
Translation: We fucked up so hard we violated Physics. The Dildo of Consequence would break Causality and create an Accountability Singularity that will destroy us all.