Italy’s antitrust authority has imposed fines totaling 10 million euros ($10.7 million) on two subsidiaries of Amazon, alleging unfair commercial practices. The regulator claims that Amazon pre-set the ‘Subscribe and Save’ option on its website, restricting consumers’ freedom of choice and encouraging them to opt for regular deliveries rather than one-off purchases.
According to the watchdog, the pre-ticking of the recurring purchase option induces consumers to periodically buy a product, even without the effective need, thus limiting their freedom of choice. However, Amazon contests the decision and plans to appeal, claiming that the ‘Subscribe and Save’ program benefits customers by saving them money and time on regular deliveries of essential items.
Since its launch in Italy, the ‘Subscribe and Save’ option, which allows customers to schedule periodic deliveries of everyday essentials with an extra discount against the price of a single purchase, has allegedly generated savings of more than 40 million euros ($43 million) for customers.
This decision by the Italian antitrust authority highlights the increasing scrutiny of large e-commerce companies and their business practices, particularly regarding consumer protection and fair competition. The outcome of Amazon’s appeal will be closely watched as it could set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
