California Authorities Unveil Emails Alleging Amazon Price-Fixing Collusion
Newly unsealed court documents released by California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday allege that Amazon employees colluded with other companies to artificially inflate prices on a range of consumer products sold online. The emails, part of an ongoing antitrust battle, suggest coordinated efforts to raise prices on items including pet treats, khaki pants, and eyedrops across multiple retail platforms.
Specific Allegations of Coordinated Price Increases
According to the court filing, Amazon allegedly worked with a pet treat manufacturer to ensure that Chewy, a major pet supplies retailer, matched price hikes on dog treats. In one email exchange, Amazon instructed the vendor: "As you noted, Chewy should be aware of this update and follow suit accordingly." Two days later, an employee of the manufacturer confirmed in an internal message that the price increases had been implemented on both Amazon and Chewy, stating: "The prices that went up on Amazon immediately went up on Chewy :)".
In another instance, Amazon reportedly sent links to Levi's showing Dockers khaki pants being sold at lower prices by Walmart, describing them as "styles of concern." The following day, Levi's informed Amazon that it had spoken with Walmart, which had "partnered with us" to raise the price to $29.99 immediately. Amazon then updated its own price to match this higher figure, several dollars above its previous selling point.
Legal and Corporate Responses
Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned Amazon's alleged actions in a statement, asserting: "The evidence uncovered today is clear as day: Amazon is working to make your life more unaffordable. The company is price fixing, colluding with vendors and other retailers to raise costs for Americans beyond what the market requires – beyond what is fair." The allegations are part of a broader antitrust lawsuit filed by Bonta's office in 2022, which claims Amazon has pressured online vendors dependent on its platform to hike prices on other retailers' websites, such as Walmart and Target.
Amazon responded by calling the filing "a transparent attempt to distract from the weakness of its case," noting it came more than three years after the initial complaint and based on evidence the state has had for years. The company stated: "Amazon is consistently identified as America’s lowest-priced online retailer, and we’re proud of the low prices customers find when shopping in our store. Amazon looks forward to responding in court at the appropriate time."
Walmart, Levi's, and Chewy are not defendants in the case. A Walmart spokesperson declined to comment on the litigation but emphasized the company "will always work hard on behalf of our customers to keep our prices low." Levi's and Chewy did not respond to requests for comment.
Broader Context and Upcoming Proceedings
The unsealed emails were part of a motion submitted by the California attorney general in February seeking an injunction to halt Amazon's alleged price-fixing tactics. Amazon has previously denied the state's core allegations as "entirely false and misguided," arguing that its practices promote competition. The trial against Amazon is currently scheduled to begin on January 19, 2027. This follows recent reports of other unsealed documents in the case, including testimony from smaller companies claiming Amazon's tactics forced them to increase prices.
Bonta's office contends that by maintaining an artificial price floor, Amazon has preserved the appearance of low prices while stifling competition and extracting more money from consumers. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of major tech firms' market practices and their impact on affordability for everyday Americans.
