Yes.
But they can't do -10% discount.
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[Rumor] IGN FR: Amazon won't sell any Switch and upcoming Nintendo games in France
- Thread starter Rouk'
- Start date
I've been ordering more and more from la FNAC recently, they're just slightly more expensive than Amazon but often give some free pre-order goodies, and it's a French company with actual stores in France.
You do realise that the entire reason amazon is able to massively undercut other retailers is because they pay an absolute tiny fraction of the amount of tax they actually owe? Amazon are the fucking scum of the earth and if our politicians actually had a fucking spine they would be outlawed until they stop being such utter weaselfuckers - we'd be better off if more manufacturers actually enforced some kind of minimum / maximum pricing these days
They are both American companies, and I don't think Microsoft particularly cares whether the Xbox One is undervalued or not ~ any sale is a new MAU for them.
You do realize that MSRP stands for Manufacturers SUGGESTED Retail Price, right? That means Amazon or any other retailer is free to charge what they want for merchandise. No one is required to sell at the price Nintendo suggests. Nintendo is definitely wrong here.
Scalpers undercut each other all the time, so why can't legit retailers do it?
Good point.
Well as we've seen with the PS4, Amazon's refusal to sell a console may not necessarily affect sales. People will just buy elsewhere. I'm sure the same will be true with the Switch in France.
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Could you please develop your thought here ? Because I've never used Amazon in the last 10 years, and I never had a single problem to find a game. Fnac is fine, and French (or other retailers). But please note that I'm mainly a Nintendo gamer, so I don't have a clue about whether or not there could be this kind of problems with other platforms.
I am and never shop at fnac, for anything really, they are crooks. On Amazon you can regularly find games day 1 at 45€. I always buy games either on amazon.fr or other EU variant or directly from some UK online store, that consistently gets me the best prices.
You don't know how big corporations work.
For years, when FNAC was established in Spain, they were selling music CDs below of the purchasing cost.
Let's say that they bought a CD to a distributor for something like €8, but then they will sell this for €5.
What was the sense of a policy like this? To force to close to all the small record stores, to be the only physical store selling CDs, which is what finally happened.
In the last days of these monopoly practices to end with the competency it was fun, because a lot of small stores were purchasing their stock in FNAC, because it was cheaper than buy the same product from the distributor, only to sell this at an high price.
And do you know why Amazon or FNAC haven't been able to monopolize the book sector in Spain and in France?
Because we have laws, in which a retailer can't sell a book with more than a 5% discount.
And because of this, in Spain and in France we still have amazing retailers specialized in selling good literature.
Seeing how well documented is this type of expansion by big corporations, to force to the small local stores to close its doors, it's disappointing to read all of these messages in a forum like ERA, in which a lot of people presume of progressive values.
Let me laugh.
I you are looking for scum, search for "politicians" creating rules for "best friends".
Then, If you seek egality in the world, just stop buying anything and stop exploiting third world.
You do realize that ?
What?? You say we don't know how corporations work and then assume what Nintendo's doing... Nintendo is NOT doing the good guy. Why all of a sudden would they start caring about little stores in France? I don't know how you would come up to this conclusion. Also the last phrase doesn't make any sense in this context.
I'm not a huge fan of other online retailers in France since none provide the same quality of service as amazon (even though amazon is getting worse each year imo here) and I live in a region where there's not much culture, so amazon is my best bet when I want a book or non-mainstream blurays and games.
Predatory pricing is also illegal in the EU for market leaders like Amazon. At any rate, nintendo isn't forced to sell to anyone and since we don't know any of the details, there's no reason to assume Amazon are in the right here. It could be as simple as Amazon demanding Nintendo eat the price difference and Nintendo not being down for that.
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I mean, I don't diasgree there, but... Your solution is to turn to Amazon, really ? They are no angels either. The best solution would be to support small local retailers. But I guess it's okay to support Amazon because their products are 5€ cheaper no matter how "evilish" their policies are.
Nintendo is protecting to the rest of local stores. Simply, if Amazon is selling a product at the same production cost without taking a single cent of benefit, to push services like Amazon Prime, at the end why will want a small local store to buy Switch stock? If they sell this at the same price of Amazon, they will not see a single cent of benefice.
Its good that Nintendo is going against the data driven Amazon. Amazon is seen as a good thing because of the lower prices but it puts a lot of pressure on the product sellers. They basically just drive down prices based on data. Not good for businesses at all.
Because there are laws against doing it in the EU because the entire goal for Amazon is to temporarily sell certain items below cost to drive other businesses completely out of the marketplace. If you don't believe Amazon would do that, I have a bridge to sell you.
I mean, I wouldn't wish to my worst enemy to work at amazon (or mcdonalds, starbucks etc), but at the end of the day they're cheaper and if the alternative is to buy overpriced at micromania, auchan etc for example, I'll take my business elsewhere.
I don't know how big corporations work? Amazon work exactly as I outlined - they have far greater buying power and muscle when it comes to negotiating with manufacturers and bully them as far as they can get away with - they've had similar spats with all three console manufacturers in the past.
How exactly does your example of a company buying CDs and selling them for less than they bought them for have any relevance here? Amazon were undercutting other retailers by a mere 30 euros, they were not loss leading and selling for less than their buy-in. I think of the two of us, I'm not the one who has the wrong end of the stick as to what's actually going on here.
Nintendo are not allowed to set an MSRP, yet they effectively do. Best guess is Amazon put that in jeopardy and Nintendo likely spat the dummy. They've been done for it in the past and it looks like they've been at it again. or, as I said, it's jut Amazon bullying manufacturers again as they are well known for.
I see the muscle of negotiating that they have, when this situation is happening.
I keep seeing the term "price fixing" getting thrown around. Pretty sure this doesn't qualify as price fixing, which is illegal. I am in the U.S. so I am speaking of my country.
This seems to be a case of a manufacturer imposed minimum price which is not a violation of U.S. law, not sure about France.
From the FTC website:
"If a manufacturer, on its own, adopts a policy regarding a desired level of prices, the law allows the manufacturer to deal only with retailers who agree to that policy. A manufacturer also may stop dealing with a retailer that does not follow its resale price policy. That is, a manufacturer can implement a dealer policy on a "take it or leave it" basis."
"The critical distinction is between a unilateral decision to impose a restraint (lawful) and a collective agreement among competitors to do the same (unlawful)."
This seems to state that manufacturers can set minimum and maximum prices as long as they are enforced across the board.
The full text of the FTC rule can be found here.
This seems to be a case of a manufacturer imposed minimum price which is not a violation of U.S. law, not sure about France.
From the FTC website:
"If a manufacturer, on its own, adopts a policy regarding a desired level of prices, the law allows the manufacturer to deal only with retailers who agree to that policy. A manufacturer also may stop dealing with a retailer that does not follow its resale price policy. That is, a manufacturer can implement a dealer policy on a "take it or leave it" basis."
"The critical distinction is between a unilateral decision to impose a restraint (lawful) and a collective agreement among competitors to do the same (unlawful)."
This seems to state that manufacturers can set minimum and maximum prices as long as they are enforced across the board.
The full text of the FTC rule can be found here.
If you think Amazon are in any way sat crying owrrying about what they're going to do as they can't sell Nintendo stuff in this territory, lol, you're very much mistaken. They're fucking brutal and it's Nintendo or Sony or whoever is missing from their marketplace that is the one that should be concerned.
They've been fined millions in the past for colluding with retailers by artificially setting high prices with retailers for years.
Good luck in the future that you are trying to create, with these type of economies sustained in the monopolies, and without protecting laws coming from the governments.
In Europe we still have a free and universal health care system, contrary to the US. Let's see for how many time, with things like the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Then why is it called a "suggested" retail price rather than a "required" retail price?
Elaborating on my previous post, this is an example Q & A from the same FTC webpage.
"Q: One of my suppliers marks its products with a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Do I have to charge this price?
A: The key word is "suggested." A dealer is free to set the retail price of the products it sells. A dealer can set the price at the MSRP or at a different price, as long as the dealer comes to that decision on its own. However, the manufacturer can decide not to use distributors that do not adhere to its MSRP."
So basically a retailer is free to sale the product at whatever price they want to and the manufacturer is free not to supply them said product if they do so.
The fuck are you talking about? I'm trying to create a future? I'm just telling you how it is, as a (currently) EU citizen living and buying my games in Europe. You're the one who seems to think they're living in a bubble somewhere, oblivious to the reality around them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
And that's basically the opposite of what you said in your previous post.
The first step would be to put and end to this "tax optimization" BS that's going on in Europe, than smaller companies would compete on a more equal footing. EU politicians unwillingness to change that is the first reason amazon and co are quickly becoming monopolies as they crush their competition.
Is it? Considering most of that post was a quote of the rules from the FTC, I don't think that is the case.
I said "This seems to be a case of a manufacturer imposed minimum price which is not a violation of U.S. law, not sure about France."
"This seems to state that manufacturers can set minimum and maximum prices as long as they are enforced across the board."
I don't think this contradicts what I said in the second post.
"So basically a retailer is free to sale the product at whatever price they want to and the manufacturer is free not to supply them said product if they do so."
Either way, there is nothing illegal or shady about this practice according to the FTC.
Yeah, but at this time, I have completely lost my faith in Europe, seeing how the alt-right politics are quickly ascending in most of the European countries. To see a complete century fighting for our rights with the blood of our grandparents, destroyed in a single decade.
It does kinda, in your first post. If Nintendo adopted that policy in your first post, they couldn't have an MSRP attached to their products, because they wouldn't be suggesting a retail price for their products, and instead would be requiring a minimum price.
Fnac is not cheaper but has a real fidelity program to save you money on your next purchase (often 10€ per preorder).
Couldn't you read this as:
Nintendo sets the recommended price which other retailers follow, but Amazon decides to sell it much cheaper than usual to undercut competitors. They are able to do this somehow, maybe gain the cost back in other areas.
This means that consumers would just buy it from Amazon instead of the other competitors which can't compete on the price.
Nintendo sets the recommended price which other retailers follow, but Amazon decides to sell it much cheaper than usual to undercut competitors. They are able to do this somehow, maybe gain the cost back in other areas.
This means that consumers would just buy it from Amazon instead of the other competitors which can't compete on the price.
Still not seeing it. Basically if I manufacture widgets and I want retailer to sell my widgets at a certain price and I set an MSRP of $19.99. By law I cannot tell them not to sell my widgets for $17.99 but I am completely within my rights to not provide them with stock if they do so. I can refuse to provide them with stock for selling above or below the MSRP I set. Effectively this allows me to set a minimum and maximum price if I choose.
But the key is Nintendo is allowed to not provide Amazon with stock for not adhering to the MSRP. Once again I am speaking in regards to U.S. law.
Did you miss the part where I said "spineless politicians"? Doesn't mean amazon aren't culpable - plenty of retailers play by the rules and aren't completely morally bankrupt. Amazon are fucking vile and a law unto themselves driving actually legitimate, honest tax paying business into the ground. Fuck them, shop literally anywhere other than amazon and do the world a favour
Amazon had a pretty aggressive expansion policy in Spain in the last 5 years, you can see TV ads in every channel, and now it's a normalized thing, most of the people that I know use Amazon.
And in small cities, for a lot of products, you're still "forced" to use Amazon. I remember to be searching for a very specific electronic component some weeks ago, and after searching in every small retailer in my city, I ended buying this in Amazon. But most of the people will not even care in first trying to find the same product in a local store.
Indeed, they have had serious conflicts with the workers because of the shitty working conditions that they're offering. The last worker's strike coincided with the Amazon Prime Days week.
So they're not even good in creating a healthy local economy, in which people can achieve some type of dignity through their works.
Of course I know how it works, I'm saying the situation WOULD actually be better IF minimum / maximum pricing was set by manufacturers given that amazon are undercutting these other retailers to A) drive them out of business - and are only able to do it because B) they pay a fucking microscopic amount of tax and C) are now so big no fucking politician will stand upto them to enforce any law unto them allowing them to further shirk their tax paying responsibilities - amazon are fucking utter scum along with all the spineless politicians who continue to do nothing but pander to them
My guess is there's a price cut incoming, maybe to 270, and so Amazon is preemptively killing the excitement at that price.
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Why though? It does not change anything for us customers. The only people at risk are Nintendo/Amazon (Whether or not one of them is/was doing something illegal). Amazon didn't have a monopoly in France, Fnac is still here, (overpriced) Micromania is still here, other third parties retailers are still here.