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Friday, August 2, 2019
FTC Looking Into Impact of Apple's Sales Agreement With Amazon on Independent Resellers
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Last year, Apple began selling many of its products on Amazon, including the latest iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. As part of Apple's agreement with Amazon, unauthorized resellers who offered new or refurbished Apple products on Amazon had their listings removed after January 4, 2019.
Since then, independent sellers have been required to apply for Apple Authorized Reseller status and the Amazon Renewed program to continue to offer used or refurbished Apple products on Amazon, but this is not always feasible due to hefty requirements outlined by The Verge earlier this year:
Specifically, the report claims that FTC lawyers recently reached out to John Bumstead, a Minnesota man who sold refurbished MacBooks on Amazon until his listings were removed from the platform due to the new policy:
The Verge claims that "experts say the Apple-Amazon deal could easily be grounds for an antitrust complaint," citing Sally Hubbard, the director of enforcement strategy at the OpenMarkets Institute:
This article, "FTC Looking Into Impact of Apple's Sales Agreement With Amazon on Independent Resellers" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Last year, Apple began selling many of its products on Amazon, including the latest iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. As part of Apple's agreement with Amazon, unauthorized resellers who offered new or refurbished Apple products on Amazon had their listings removed after January 4, 2019.
Since then, independent sellers have been required to apply for Apple Authorized Reseller status and the Amazon Renewed program to continue to offer used or refurbished Apple products on Amazon, but this is not always feasible due to hefty requirements outlined by The Verge earlier this year:
The first is to purchase at least $2.5 million worth of refurbished inventory every 90 days from Apple itself or through a retailer with more than $5 billion in annual sales, like a wireless carrier or big-box retailers like Target or Walmart. The second is to reach out directly to Apple to become an authorized reseller. Apple has yet to make its reseller requirements known to the public, but to become an Apple-authorized provider of repairs requires a physical retail space for customers to enter.Now, The Verge reports that the FTC has looked into the Apple-Amazon deal, although it has yet to formally raise any antitrust concerns.
Specifically, the report claims that FTC lawyers recently reached out to John Bumstead, a Minnesota man who sold refurbished MacBooks on Amazon until his listings were removed from the platform due to the new policy:
"They wanted to know how Amazon works, how eBay works. I went into describing how a listing works on Amazon. Amazon is interesting in that you don't necessarily create a listing. You just sort of tag on to an existing listing," Bumstead tells The Verge. "If that listing gets deleted, chances are you're not allowed to sell that product. That's how Amazon did this. They created a bunch of renewed listings from the people who were certified, and they let those people sell on those listings, and they abandoned everyone else."Bumstead has been vocal since being squeezed out of Amazon, arguing that a significant number of lower-cost refurbished or used Apple products are no longer available through Amazon, reducing choice for consumers.
The Verge claims that "experts say the Apple-Amazon deal could easily be grounds for an antitrust complaint," citing Sally Hubbard, the director of enforcement strategy at the OpenMarkets Institute:
"You put a gate around the brand and say all the third-party sellers of whatever that brand is get a notice saying you can no longer sell this product on our platform unless you get authorization from the brand," Hubbard tells The Verge. "But of course the brand is not going to let you sell if you're under the [minimum advertised price]. Problem is that it's illegal under antitrust law."Whether the FTC shares that view and/or takes action remains to be seen.
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Deals Spotlight: Best Buy Discounting Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4 by $50-$100
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Best Buy has kicked off a few new discounts on the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4, with as much as $100 off select models. Series 4 discounts expire on August 4 while Series 3 sales will last through August 10.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For the Apple Watch Series 3, Best Buy is offering $100 off a variety of models, including both aluminum and stainless steel. Prices start at $279 for 38mm aluminum and $309 for 42mm aluminum. The Apple Watch discounts are part of Best Buy's newest 3-Day weekend discount event.
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Best Buy has kicked off a few new discounts on the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4, with as much as $100 off select models. Series 4 discounts expire on August 4 while Series 3 sales will last through August 10.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.For the Apple Watch Series 3, Best Buy is offering $100 off a variety of models, including both aluminum and stainless steel. Prices start at $279 for 38mm aluminum and $309 for 42mm aluminum. The Apple Watch discounts are part of Best Buy's newest 3-Day weekend discount event.
Apple Watch Series 3: $100 Off
- Nike+ (GPS + Cellular) 38mm Space Gray Aluminum Case with Anthracite/Black Nike Sport Band - $279, down from $379
- (GPS + Cellular) 38mm Space Gray Aluminum Case with Dark Olive Sport Loop - $279, down from $379
- Nike+ (GPS + Cellular) 42mm Space Gray Aluminum Case with Anthracite/Black Nike Sport Band - $309, down from $409
- (GPS + Cellular) 38mm Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Black Sport Band - $479, down from $579
Apple Watch Series 4: $50 Off
- (GPS) 40mm Gold Aluminum Case with Pink Sand Sport Band - $349, down from $399
- (GPS) 40mm Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band - $349, down from $399
- Nike+ (GPS) 44mm Space Gray Aluminum Case with Anthracite/Black Nike Sport Band - $379, down from $429
- (GPS + Cellular) 44mm Gold Stainless Steel Case with Stone Sport Band - $699, down from $749
Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Apple Music Renames 'The A-List: Alternative' Playlist to 'ALT CTRL' and Updates 'Essentials' With Cover Art Shot on iPhone
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Apple Music today released a new playlist called "ALT CTRL," which is a rebranded version of its previous "The A-List: Alternative" playlist. This list of songs includes alternative bands and is currently headlined by HAIM's new single, "Summer Girl" (via Billboard).
ALT CTRL's playlist art will showcase a new artist each week, starting with HAIM. The playlist includes artists like Twenty One Pilots, The Black Keys, Dominic Fike, Lana Del Rey, and Vampire Weekend.
Amid the ongoing rebranding of its A-List playlists, Apple has also updated a few "Essentials" playlists with new Shot on iPhone cover art. Artists include Lizzo; Travis Scott; Kacey Musgraves; Tyler, The Creator; Tierra Whack; IDLES; Leon Bridges; Skrillex; and CHAI.
Each playlist showcases an image of the artist shot on an iPhone on their tour, and some artist's profile images have also been updated with similar Shot on iPhone iconography, including Lizzo and Kacey Musgraves. Apple has highlighted a few artists in a similar fashion with its "Shot on iPhone on Tour" video series, including artists like Florence Welch and FKA Twigs.
Apple Music has continued to grow over the years, and in June the streaming music service was reported to have just over 60 million paid subscribers. Earlier this week Spotify reported on its own paid subscriber count, which broke 108 million globally in Q2 2019.
This article, "Apple Music Renames 'The A-List: Alternative' Playlist to 'ALT CTRL' and Updates 'Essentials' With Cover Art Shot on iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple Music today released a new playlist called "ALT CTRL," which is a rebranded version of its previous "The A-List: Alternative" playlist. This list of songs includes alternative bands and is currently headlined by HAIM's new single, "Summer Girl" (via Billboard).
ALT CTRL's playlist art will showcase a new artist each week, starting with HAIM. The playlist includes artists like Twenty One Pilots, The Black Keys, Dominic Fike, Lana Del Rey, and Vampire Weekend.
"Alternative is more an attitude than a sound -- music that colors just a bit outside the lines. ALT CTRL, formerly known as The A-List: Alternative, is where you'll find the best of those new left-of-center tunes."Apple has slowly been rebranding its "The A-List" playlists, which now also includes "The A-List: Hip-Hop" changing to "Rap Life" in July and "The A-List: Dance" changing to "danceXL" in March. Other playlists still categorized as "The A-List" include genres like Pop, Country, R&B, Christian, Classical, Bollywood, African, K-Pop, Telugu, Khaleeji, Mandopop, J-Pop, Russian Hip-Hop, and more.
Amid the ongoing rebranding of its A-List playlists, Apple has also updated a few "Essentials" playlists with new Shot on iPhone cover art. Artists include Lizzo; Travis Scott; Kacey Musgraves; Tyler, The Creator; Tierra Whack; IDLES; Leon Bridges; Skrillex; and CHAI.
Each playlist showcases an image of the artist shot on an iPhone on their tour, and some artist's profile images have also been updated with similar Shot on iPhone iconography, including Lizzo and Kacey Musgraves. Apple has highlighted a few artists in a similar fashion with its "Shot on iPhone on Tour" video series, including artists like Florence Welch and FKA Twigs.
Apple Music has continued to grow over the years, and in June the streaming music service was reported to have just over 60 million paid subscribers. Earlier this week Spotify reported on its own paid subscriber count, which broke 108 million globally in Q2 2019.
Tag: Apple Music
This article, "Apple Music Renames 'The A-List: Alternative' Playlist to 'ALT CTRL' and Updates 'Essentials' With Cover Art Shot on iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Deals Spotlight: Get the 2019 10.5-Inch iPad Air for $50 Off (Lowest Ever)
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Amazon is discounting Apple's new 10.5-inch iPad Air by $50 across numerous models, including both W-Fi and cellular configurations.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Prices start at $449.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model and rise from there. Across the board, these are the lowest prices ever seen on each iPad Air, which was just updated in March.
Our full Deals Roundup has even more information on the latest sales and bargains going on this week.
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Amazon is discounting Apple's new 10.5-inch iPad Air by $50 across numerous models, including both W-Fi and cellular configurations.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.Prices start at $449.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model and rise from there. Across the board, these are the lowest prices ever seen on each iPad Air, which was just updated in March.
2019 iPad Air Sale
- Wi-Fi, 64GB - $449.99, down from $499.00 ($49 off, lowest ever)
- Wi-Fi, 256GB - $599.00, down from $649.00 ($50 off, lowest ever)
- Cellular, 64GB - $579.99, down from $629.00 ($49 off, lowest ever)
- Cellular, 256GB - $729.00, down from $779.00 ($50 off, lowest ever)
Our full Deals Roundup has even more information on the latest sales and bargains going on this week.
Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
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The best iPhone deals of August 2019
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Looking for a new iPhone at a great price? We've rounded up the best cheap iPhone deals and attractively priced contracts of August 2019
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Looking for a new iPhone at a great price? We've rounded up the best cheap iPhone deals and attractively priced contracts of August 2019
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