US: Amazon tactic pushes shoppers to its own brand?

Amazon has introduced a new feature that markets its private-label brands right before consumers add rival products to their shopping carts.

The Washington Post conducted dozens of product searches and saw offers for a “similar item to consider” featuring an Amazon brand appearing just above the area where shoppers click to add a purchase to their cart.

The boxes reportedly touted lower-priced Amazon versions of everyday items like Glad trash bags, Dr. Scholl’s gel insoles, and Energizer batteries.

The retail behemoth has a huge amount of power over what’s sold on its platform thanks to its data-mining capabilities. That dominance is drawing scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers in America, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Democrat – Massachusetts) who wants to break up Amazon on antitrust grounds.

Full Content: Washington Post

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