Amazon Fined for Unfair Commercial Practices in Italy
Italy’s competition authority has fined two Amazon companies 10 million euros for unfair commercial practices that push customers into agreeing to “recurring” rather than “one-time” purchases online.
Details of the Ruling
- Amazon Services Europe and Amazon EU were fined 10 million euros by Italy’s competition authority.
- The option for recurring purchases was pre-selected by default on a wide range of products on Amazon’s Italian website.
- This practice limits consumers’ ability to make free and informed choices.
Amazon’s Response
Amazon expressed strong disagreement with the ruling and announced its intention to appeal. The company emphasized the benefits of its Subscribe and Save program, highlighting the savings and convenience it offers to customers.
Consumer Impact
Consumers in Italy have saved over 40 million euros through Amazon’s subscription program. The pre-selection of the “paid fast delivery” option was also a point of concern raised by the watchdog.
Resolution
Amazon has agreed to pre-select only the free delivery option in the future and to compensate consumers who raised complaints about this practice last year.