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The book The Everything Store talks about how Amazon uses counterfeit goods to sort-of blackmail high-end goods to letting them sell. I think the book gave the
by dharmon 10y ago
The book The Everything Store talks about how Amazon uses counterfeit goods to sort-of blackmail high-end goods to letting them sell.
I think the book gave the example of a high-end kitchen knife brand, maybe Wüsthof, that would not allow Amazon to sell their knives. Before you know it, cheap knockoffs appeared claiming to be Wüsthof knives. When they let Amazon sell the real deal, suddenly the knockoffs disappeared from the store.
I have a feeling the same thing is happening with the high-end perfumeries, like Creed. Everything sold on Amazon is a knockoff because the company doesn't sell there. I bet if they did, the fake stuff would magically disappear...
- cstejerean 10y agoI don't think it's blackmail. I wonder if brands like Wüsthof got exclusive agreements as part of selling on Amazon so that nobody else is allowed to list their product, therefore eliminating the knockoffs. But without an official listing then Amazon would have to sort through every reseller to see if they are selling legitimate products or not, and what incentive would Amazon have to do that?
- tehwebguy 10y agoAmazon does make deals like that. GoPro, Sony, Samsung, Nest and tons of other brands are (for the most part, at least) locked down.