Amazon took data from independent sellers to launch rival products

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Contrary to assertions to Congress, Amazon employees often consulted sales information on third-party vendors when developing its own merchandise.

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Amazon says it doesn't use information on third-party sellers to inform its private-label business. But interviews with more than 20 employees and documents I reviewed show a pattern of using this data to create their own competing items.

 

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Documents I reviewed from an Amazon employee had data on a 4-person Brooklyn Amazon seller that makes car accessories. The data showed they sold 33,000 units over 12 months. It had Amazon's profit per sale. In September, Amazon launched competing items

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“This report raises deep concerns about Amazon’s apparent lack of candor before the Committee regarding an issue that is central to our investigation,” Jerrold Nadler (D., N.Y.) said in the memo on Thursday following our story.

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