Connect with us

Economy

Amazon was selling overpriced goods during the pandemic, according to consumer surveillance

Published

on

Amazon was selling overpriced goods during the pandemic, according to consumer surveillance

Amazon is accused of overpricing basic necessities like toilet paper and antibacterial soaps, in Public Citizen Consumer Advocacy Group Report… The report analyzed over a dozen products, including those sold by third-party sellers and items listed as “sold by Amazon.” Prices for some items were found to have more than quadrupled between May and August, apparently in violation of Amazon’s own Fair Pricing Policy.

In response to the report, Amazon said there was “no room for overpricing” for its services, including products it sells directly. “Our systems are designed to offer customers the best online prices available, and if we see an error, we quickly fix it,” the spokesperson said.

But the report casts doubt on Amazon’s claims that it was only on third-party lists published by “attackers” that the prices of goods such as face masks and hand sanitizer increased during the pandemic. Amazon has publicly took a hard line about sellers exploiting demand for hygiene and household goods, and claims that thousands of sellers have been banned for doing so.

For items listed as “sold by Amazon,” hand sanitizer prices increased by about 48 percent, according to Public Citizen (product category, Amazon said it has imposed restrictions on back in March), up to 1,000 percent for packs of disposable masks. In the case of toilet paper, for example, the nonprofit group reported that back in June it found that a pack of eight rolls was selling for $ 36.39, while other retailers were charging just $ 6.89 for the same product. One bottle of antibacterial soap was listed at $ 7, up from $ 1.49, up 470 percent.

See also  Oil prices plummet on international markets - Executive Digest

In addition to examining the top ten items listed as sold by Amazon, the report also analyzed eight items sold by third-party sellers. These sellers account for a quarter of online retail revenue, according to Amazon’s most recent P&L. Here, Public Citizen found that antibacterial soaps increased by 274 percent and for flour by 941 percent.

While the report found many examples where third-party price tracking systems found large discrepancies between the highest and lowest prices charged for items, in other cases it shows how difficult it is to see how many items have been sold in the past, and therefore obtain an idea of ​​what their price should actually be. Prices fluctuate quickly, making it difficult to determine the typical price, as well as erroneous or deviating prices.

Take face masks, for example. While the Public Citizen report points to an alarming 1,000 percent price increase from about $ 4 to $ 39.99 currently for a pack of 50 masks listed as “sold by Amazon,” it notes that the number of new face mask listings makes it difficult cooking apples. – comparison with apples ”. The link in the report for this original $ 4 price tag for face masks came from Wired report published in Februarywhich indicates now deleted list for a pack of 100, not 50 masks.

Public Citizen is calling for new federal laws that clearly set the point at which price increases lead to price gouging and to which products they apply (Amazon itself called for new federal regulation back in May), but also for Amazon to reform its own listings to make pricing more transparent. The advocacy group wants Amazon to include a link to price history next to each product listing and to end the practice of creating new product pages for products already listed on its service, among other reforms.

See also  Asian marketplaces muted as traders warily await U.S. stimulus deal

In a statement, an Amazon spokesman said the Public Citizen report found a small number of pricing errors. They said Amazon had removed “over a million overpricing attempts” and suspended over 10,000 merchant accounts.

“We have sent the most egregious offenders to federal and state law enforcement agencies across the country to bring them to justice,” the spokesman said. “We continue to actively monitor our store and remove offers that violate our policies.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Economy

Everything has been delivered. 10 Bugatti Centodieci are already in the hands of the owners

Published

on

Everything has been delivered.  10 Bugatti Centodieci are already in the hands of the owners

OAll Bugatti Centodieci have been delivered, the Molsheim-based brand said on Monday. Cristiano Ronaldo received the number 07 in October this year. and Bugatti has now revealed that the latest unit – #10 – is already in the possession of its owner.

“The Centodieci combines all the values ​​of the Bugatti brand in an extraordinary package: rarity, innovation, heritage, craftsmanship and unrivaled performance. The production batch of 10 units was so in demand by our customers that it was sold before the Centodieci. was even officially presented,” said Christophe Piochon, president of Bugatti.

This latest example is finished in Quartz White with carbon fiber trim on the bottom and matte grilles. The brake calipers are painted in Light Blue Sport, as is the logo on the rear that refers to the EB110, the iconic Bugatti model that inspired this Centodieci. Inside, the predominant color is also blue, as you can see in the images above.

This block is powered by the same block as the other nine instances. The 8.0-liter W16 with four turbines is capable of developing 1600 hp. In terms of performance, this allows the Centodieci to hit 100 km/h in just 2.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 380 km/h.

Recall that each unit costs the owners eight million euros before taxes.

Read also: We already know when the Bugatti Centodieci fell into the hands of Ronaldo.

Continue Reading

Economy

The first Dacia hybrid. “The cheapest hybrid family on the market”

Published

on

The first Dacia hybrid.  "The cheapest hybrid family on the market"

BUT Dacia revealed this Monday that the hybrid engine has been available since March on the Jogger, the Romanian brand’s model known to be available with a seven-seat variant.

The Jogger Hybrid 140, Dacia’s first hybrid, will hit dealerships in March, but customers can expect and order it as early as January.

The price has been revealed by Dacia and since it’s only available in the seven-seater SL Extreme, it starts at €28,800. The brand claims it is “the most affordable hybrid family car on the market.”

Available in six existing colors to celebrate the launch of this hybrid, there will be a slate gray version, as you can see in the images above.

Equipped with a 1.6 liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 90 hp, the Jogger is also powered by two electric motors (a 50 hp engine and a high-voltage starter-generator). The total power is 140 horsepower. The electric transmission is automatic, four-speed, connected to an internal combustion engine, and two speeds are connected to an electric motor. This combined technology was possible, according to Dacia, only due to the lack of clutch.

Combined with the energy recovery levels of the 1.2kWh (230V) battery pack and the efficiency of the automatic transmission, regenerative braking delivers all-electric traction on 80% of urban journeys and saves up to 40% of fuel compared to a combustion engine vehicle.

Read also: Dual-fuel Dacia Jogger Eco-G. We tried 5 seater and LPG…

Continue Reading

Economy

See how Tesla tests its electric Semi truck in the worst-case scenarios

Published

on

Tesla Semi camião elétrico testes

Tesla has finally been able to bring its long-awaited Semi to market. This electric truck promises to revolutionize transportation and bring all the unique characteristics of this type of electric vehicle to this class of vehicles.

Now that the first units have been delivered, there is hope that they will finally be mass-produced and reach more transport companies. With so many promises to be kept, a new video is now emerging showing Tesla testing its Semi truck under worst-case scenarios.


Tesla Semi is already on the market

Like all Tesla electric vehicles, Semi follows the same line of creating a unique design associated with a platform with the most modern technology available. The proof is in what was presented to the public and surprised most people.

To prove the quality of this new proposal, Tesla published in your LinkedIn account new video. In it, he reveals some of the testing he's done to determine the strength and quality of the Semi's design and its (potential) durability.

Tests to prove its durability

It has been revealed that the Tesla electric truck is subjected to numerous tests and its application in the worst scenarios that drivers may face. It doesn't stop at the ruggedness of the Semi's designs, but goes further and focuses on the motors and batteries themselves.

This is the proof that many have been waiting for to ensure that this new proposal is not limited to a lot of autonomy. Its resistance is great and will provide greater durability, further enhancing the Semi's value and performance.

See also  Economic situation? Next year will be 'very difficult' for Portugal

high quality electric truck

Tesla has already showcased the Semi's quality with a video showing its truck driving roughly 500 miles on just one charge. The big news here is that he managed to make this long journey with a maximum load of about 37 tons.

Now Tesla remains to widely place the Semi on the market. At the moment, only a few companies have access to this new product, with a very long list of pending deliveries, who want to start mass-using this electric truck offering.

Continue Reading

Trending