Amazon Prime Third Party Prices Are Inflated Even for Prime Members?

This is not something new. We have known since the day Amazon Prime was launched that shipping was going to be free for the products that Amazon ships. Third party products were not covered under the program. But is Amazon encouraging sellers to inflate prices to cover for the cost of shipping? Someone is now suing Amazon, and we will soon know if there is any case here.

The complaint, which is seeking class action on behalf of Prime members between 2007 and 2011It, was filed recently in U.S. District of Seattle. While I can see how some folks can be frustrated with this practice, I am not sure this is a case that can be won easily. Amazon is essentially being accused of encouraging third-party vendors to jack up their prices and promoting them first in the product search results. It will be interesting to see whether this lawsuit will make Amazon change its ways.