The FAS has increased the number of smartphone producers suspected of price collusion in the Russian market. Besides Apple and Samsung, the service intends to check the pricing of the flagship device LG, Alcatel, Sony and Asus.
The Federal Antimonopoly service will check the prices of the smartphones of popular brands. The Agency sent the company the relevant queries. “Inspection is conducted on the basis of a complaint from the consumer,” — said the FAS.
By results of check the decision on initiation of proceedings. Since the RNS the representative office, if it turns out that equipment manufacturers coordinated the prices of their products, the companies face fines of up to RUB 5 million In the case that it is proved the existence of the cartel — from 1% to 15% of the revenues in the market.
The market surprised
President “Euroset” Alexander Malis, I’m surprised the anti-monopoly service accused of coordinating prices these companies. “Prices for the products of these companies is subject to fluctuations, he said RNS. – At the same time in different sales channels, prices are often extremely different. Think this should indicate a lack of price regulation mechanism”. Euroset said that any queries about the prices for the products of these manufacturers did not get.
“We have not received requests from the FAS. As for pricing, it is in our market”, – said the press service of “Eldorado”.
Has not yet received requests and the producers themselves. To get acquainted with the FAS claims companies refrain from commenting.
FAS suspects collusion in that market considers a reasonable price, says a leading analyst of Mobile Research Group Eldar Murtazin.
“Actually, there is no conspiracy there is no market. There are recommended prices manufacturers. Pay attention — this is not necessarily the price, and recommended. Retailers can comply or not to comply with these recommendations. We see that they are not always followed prices fluctuate”, he said.
According to him, the FAS also does not take into account the various bonus and discount programs in which retailers attract customers. The actual cost of smartphones for the end customer from different sellers can differ from the declared prices, according to Murtazin.
Flagships under suspicion
In late November, the FAS launched an investigation against Samsung. The South Korean manufacturer also suspected in coordinating the price of smartphones on the Russian market. Request to Samsung “for prices on all smartphone models from 1 January 2015”, said the FAS. Preliminary results of the investigation, the Antimonopoly service plans to bring in January 2017. The audit office also sought information about prices on smartphones from retailers.
The Samsung reject suspicion. “The activities of Samsung Electronics in Russia is built in strict accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation”, — say the representatives of the company.
The same check goes to Apple. Investigation into the pricing of the smartphones of this manufacturer, the FAS began in the end of 2015, in early August, the service initiated a case on the coordination of the prices for the iPhone 6 against a group of persons consisting of LLC “Apple Rus”, the Apple Holding B. V., Apple Sales Ireland Apple Operations International, Apple Inc.
At the end of October, the Department initiated another investigation against Apple. The FAS analyzes the prices of the new models of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. If they revealed violations service will bring a new antitrust case or to be expanded already exists.
