Merchants: Amazon abuses us

Seattle-based Amazon.com, which has a Nevada facility in Fernley, is the target of numerous complaints for its treatment of small merchants who use the website to sell merchandise.

These consignment sellers make up about 40 percent of the complaints filed against the online giant with the Washington attorney general’s office, the Seattle Times reported on Nov. 17. Of those complaints, “three-fourths—nearly 120 sellers—complained that Seattle-based Amazon abruptly suspended or closed their accounts, tying up anywhere from several hundred dollars to more than $20,000,” the newspaper found from public records.

“Dozens of online sellers complain that Amazon arbitrarily withholds their payments for as long as three months, jeopardizing their ability to replenish inventories and stay in business. … In many cases, the world’s largest Internet retailer stacked the deck against them by providing no real explanation or chance to appeal.”

Amazon did not comment, but its officials suggested to the AG’s office that the problem was that the consignment sellers weren’t prepared for the rush of business that follows joining the website.

The Times story can be read at http://tinyurl.com/cfyhyyu.