Brussels, Belgium — Germany’s competition authority has concluded its proceeding into the distribution of Germany’s leading brand of running shoes. The Bundeskartellamt found that ASICS restricted online sales activities of authorized small and medium-sized dealers in ways that kept consumers from being able to easily search for those stores online and to shop around.
The Bundeskartellamt criticized ASICS for not allowing its authorized dealers to use price comparison engines or to list their products on online marketplaces.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association has advocated for competitive marketplaces that benefit consumers for more than 40 years. The following can be attributed to CCIA Europe Vice President James Waterworth:
“We welcome the decision of the German competition authorities that ASICS sales restrictions primarily served to control price competition. If authorised dealers cannot sell on online platforms, or advertise brand names on search engines, then consumers will not be able to find small retailers.”
“Marketplaces are a key way for consumers to compare prices and find good offers and the so the competition authority is right to find against ASICS. The ball is now in the European Commission’s court. It’s sector enquiry into e commerce is an opportunity to be clear that it is not ok to prohibit retailers from using online sales platforms, price comparison sites, or online advertisement tools.”