The Federal Antimonopoly service of Russia (FAS) has scheduled for September 13 the hearing in the case against Apple for the coordination of pricing for the iPhone. About it reports “Interfax” with reference to the representative of FAS.
As reported last week, the Antimonopoly service initiated a case against the company “eppl Rus”, Apple Holding B. V., Apple Sales Ireland Apple Operations International, Apple Inc. The Agency has detected signs of coordination of pricing for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus networks in 16 Russian retailers.
The Federal Antimonopoly service in February of this year began checking major digital retailers because of the suspicion of price collusion. We are talking about “M. Video, Eldorado, Euroset, Ozon, Re:Store, “the Messenger”, “Hardware”, Media Markt, “Citylink”, “Refrigerator.<url>”, DNS, “ion” (“Know-How”), “Technosila”, and also on the retail networks of mobile operators PJSC “Mobile TeleSystems” (MTS), OJSC “VimpelCom” and OAO “MegaFon”. In addition, the service checked the official Apple store in Russia Apple Store. The basis for the test was the citizen with information about the establishment in October 2015 are the same prices for the device.
The investigation FAS revealed that from the beginning of official sales of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in Russia the majority of Resellers established for them the same prices and kept them for some time. In addition, the service established the convergence of retailers and prices for other models of smartphones Apple.
“FAS believes that such overlap could result from the coordination of pricing Russian Resellers, the company Apple, which led to the establishment of prices on the Russian market and the adoption of the so-called “recommended” prices, as required”, — stated in the message Department.
As reported, the investigation of FAS featured Apple press release, 28 September 2015, which lists the same prices, which operated from retailers. In particular, the cost of “younger” model iPhone 6S 16 Gb memory volume stood at 56.99 thousand rubles, the “older” model iPhone 6S Plus 128 Gb — 83,99 thousand rubles (these prices are for Apple Store). These facts, according to the FAS indicate that the parties in setting prices did not act independently.
Apple itself had previously denied the charge of the FAS, saying that Resellers set their own prices for the products of the American manufacturer.
If Apple are found guilty, they could face a penalty for the coordination of economic activities — from 1 to 5 million rubles.
