How Amazon's Low Prices Raised Prices | So Expensive

The state of California is accusing Amazon of a price-fixing scheme that pushes wholesale vendors to raise prices at competing stores like Target, Walmart, Chewy, and Best Buy. And the state says, after the discovery process, it now has receipts to prove it. The case centers on several email exchanges between Amazon vendor managers and brands like Levi's, GlobalOne, Hanes, and Scotts Miracle-Gro. Business Insider obtained the full case file and reviewed hundreds of pages of documents and over a dozen email exchanges to investigate whether Amazon uses its influence as the largest e-commerce company in the United States to compel vendors to raise prices at competing retailers. We also spoke with several third-party sellers, like the inventors of the Bed Scrunchie, who say they, too, are pressured by Amazon to raise prices at other retailers. So, has Amazon become too big and powerful? And is it possible the company is using its power to drive up prices everywhere? Also read "This entrepreneur says Amazon nearly destroyed his business. He still shops on it every week. 'It's crazy'": https://bit.ly/4hWN6ju Watch our complete collection of So Expensive videos: https://bit.ly/4kmOD52 00:00 - Intro/The Levi's Emails 02:00 - Limiting Competition 03:22 - Anti-Discounting AI Algorithms 04:14 - California's Price Fixing Lawsuit 05:09 - GlobalOne/Chewy Emails 07:07 - Ice Cream Maker Emails 07:56 - Amazon's Response 09:06 - Seller Complaints 12:20 - Amazon's Seller Fees 14:49 - Amazon's Power and Influence 16:37 - The Future 17:41 - Credits ------------------------------------------------------ #amazon #retailers #sellers #commerce #soexpensive WATCH MORE FROM SO EXPENSIVE: How AI Data Centers Are Making Everything More Expensive https://youtu.be/-4dc6907JYY Why Uber Is More Expensive ... For Some People https://youtu.be/gnjVqeBoaqs The Fight To Make Expensive Stadium Food Illegal https://youtu.be/j6G91ryji5s How America Made The World Cup Unaffordable https://youtu.be/dlkgv-rYE4o Business Insider is a global newsroom covering business, technology, innovation, and the economy. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com/?utm_source=youtube Sign up for our newsletters: https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter?utm_source=youtube Find Business Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider ... on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessinsider ... on X: https://x.com/BusinessInsider ... on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessinsider Is Amazon Driving Up Prices At Other Stores? | So Expensive | Business Insider