Owners explain the frustrations of working with large technology companies and the need for antitrust legislation to level the playing field
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 30, 2022) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, released two new videos featuring small business owners discussing their experiences with large technology companies who use unfair business practices at the expense of small businesses and consumers.
The dominance of big tech companies, such as Amazon and Google, has allowed for anticompetitive, problematic business practices that harm small businesses and limit consumer choice. The American Innovation and Choice Online Act, S. 2992, sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), seeks to ensure a level playing field for businesses on the internet by prohibiting large technology companies from engaging in certain unfair practices.
Deeannah Seymour, a small business owner whose products are sold at over 45,000 retailers nationwide, explains the frustration of selling her products through Amazon: “After we realized what they were doing with our company and with our product, we felt compelled to speak out. [Amazon’s business practices] are not only illegal but are a huge consumer safety issue. They’re selling expired products…Consumer safety is a huge issue because anyone can open a store on Amazon and sell products, and there’s no recourse and no accountability. That would never happen at another major retailer…[The American Innovation and Choice Online Act] is so important not only for my small business but for all the other millions of small businesses across the U.S.”
Mark Faulkner, a small business owner from Nebraska, shares his experiences: “What we have in America right now is an unfair, uneven retail landscape. Walmart, Target, any of these big, brick-and-mortar retailers provide their own challenges, but, frankly, they’re a dream compared to Amazon. The practices that Amazon has going on – the vendor interactions, the lack of recourse and accountability, and the lack of professionalism in the marketplace – is something that would never happen at other, traditional retailers…It’s unfortunate that many companies who have had the same experiences that we have do not feel comfortable speaking out because they fear retaliation.”
NFIB sent a letter of support to the U.S. Senate in support of S. 2992, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. According to a recent member ballot, 84% of NFIB members want Congress to take legislative action to stop the unfair and anticompetitive practices of large tech companies.
View Deeannah Seymour’s video here:
View Mark Faulkner’s video here:
