The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has issued a warning to Ozon and Wildberries. The regulator requires marketplaces to disclose internal mechanisms for automatic discounts at the expense of sellers on goods with poor turnover. In addition, a check is being carried out regarding discounts set at the expense of the marketplaces themselves. The FAS does not rule out that this may lead to artificial dumping.
RATEK (Association of Trading Companies and Manufacturers of Electrical Household and Computer Equipment) also filed a complaint about automatic discounts on marketplaces, which may violate antimonopoly laws.
The FAS recalled that in early February, they had already warned Ozon and Wildberries about the need to stop actions to possibly impose unfavorable conditions on sellers. Marketplaces should provide transparent and understandable mechanisms for promotions, the FAS believes. The deadline for fulfilling the requirements of officials has been extended until the end of March 2025.
The office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, who is responsible for the draft law "On the Platform Economy", told reporters that one of the articles of the draft law is entirely devoted to regulating the process of providing discounts on goods, services and works. A representative of RATEK believes that the measures proposed in the draft law are insufficient, as marketplaces may continue to set low prices.
In response to the FAS's claims, Wildberries stated that pricing depends on sellers, and investments from marketplaces help make goods more accessible. Ozon believes that the FAS warning concerns promotions in which sellers invest their funds. The company added that they are working to make the discount mechanism more transparent and predictable for participants.
Price competition between major market players is not dumping. It is related to whether companies are ready to invest in business development and curb price increases for residents of our country.
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