Sony ‘price fixing’ charge
p2p news / p2pnet: Sony’s electronics arm engages in price-fixing "in an attempt to curb internet bargains and send online prices soaring, it emerged yesterday," says The Scotsman.
"The firm is among up to five leading manufacturers which demand higher prices from internet retailers than they do from high street stores," it says.
"The ‘dual pricing’ move is being challenged by online discounters who have made a joint complaint to the Office of Fair Trading. If their action fails, dozens of other big-name makers of hi-fis, televisions, cameras and other electrical goods could adopt the pricing strategy."
The OTF confirmed it was "investigating a complaint" but wouldn’t divulge any information about the parties involved, says the story, going on, "However, The Scotsman understands Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Phillips and Hitachi are among the brands named."
Sony UK, "claimed it was not aware of the OFT complaint, but admitted it offered wholesalers discounts if they ‘have staff that demonstrate Sony products’," it states, adding:
"James Roper, chief executive of online trade body IMRG (Interactive Media Retail Group) warned: ‘We will name and shame. This serious abuse by a global brand of both its position and consumer rights must be stopped immediately’."
See:-
The Scotsman – Sony accused of leading price-fix cartel to stop cheap deals on web, November 21, 2005, issue
November 15th, 2005 at 10:01 pm
Ah Sony…
This is the company involved in the payola scam..
this is also the company which hired a ‘movie critic’ to give fake reviews. It is also the company that tricks people into installing malware that cripples computer and opens them to viruses. Is there any corporate accountability? NO THERE IS NOT!!!!!!!!
If it were an individual comitting these felonies, he or she would be put in prison FOR LIFE under some (unconstitutional) “three strikes and your out” law. Sony needs to be liquidated and have it its assets distributed to its victims and employee pension fund. Its C.E.O. should be forced to give up ALL salaries and benefits received from this company. Its trademark should be frozen, and never be used in business again. Maybe if enough companies are forced out of business and their C.E.O.’s charged, jailed and/or bankrupted, the world will be protected to some degree against unethical and criminal business.
November 15th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
Gee wiz, Sony’s name is just popping up everywhere you look these days. They wanted to become a household name, and now they are, synonymous with corporate greed run amuck, spyware, and payola. Hey Sony, what do you do for an encore?
How about make Blu-Ray* so buggered up with DRM that everybody who has already invested in hi-def equipment will have to buy it all over again just to use the format? Folks are gonna like that…
*Not implying that HD-DVD is any better. It’s not.
November 16th, 2005 at 12:24 pm
…the skeletons come out to play.
Talk about airing your dirty laundry…When it gets aired, it really gets aired.
Now I’m curious as to what else may come out during all this.