3C Statement Regarding Federal Trade Commission Suing Amazon

Washington, DC (September 26, 2023): The Connected Commerce Council (3C) released the following statement from Executive Director Rob Retzlaff following the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filing suit against Amazon in an attempt to disrupt the e-commerce marketplace.

“Lina Khan’s FTC is on a mission to disrupt Amazon and damage our nation’s thriving small business community. After years of study, Chair Khan remains strikingly ignorant about how Amazon operates and the value it provides, particularly to small sellers and upstart brands. The Amazon store connects small business sellers to millions of customers worldwide, highlights great products for consumers without charging sellers promotional fees, and provides optional, extraordinarily affordable fulfillment and logistics services. We hear consistently from a diverse range of small business owners that the Amazon store is helping their businesses grow, compete with larger brands, and succeed. The FTC’s mission to fundamentally change Amazon’s operations will decrease the value Amazon provides sellers and hurt small businesses nationwide.

“Despite its drawn-out scrutiny of the company, the FTC clearly has not consulted with Amazon sellers to understand their experience in the store. Amazon does not require sellers to use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), and small sellers tell us that they frequently win the Featured Offer (formerly known as the ‘Buy Box’) regardless of whether they buy advertising or use FBA services, including when they are competing directly against products sold by Amazon.

“As has already happened several times this year, the judge hearing this case should end it mercifully and quickly by ruling against the FTC on summary judgment. That would be the best outcome for millions of consumers and small businesses.”