An online shopping giant has threatened to suspend traders who attempt to charge customers in the north of Scotland hidden delivery fees.
Sellers on Amazon’s Marketplace, comprised of independent firms selling through the company’s website, have attempted to charge Moray residents for home delivery – despite advertising it was free to the “UK mainland”.
The region’s MSP, Richard Lochhead, revealed how one seller attempted to charge a customer an extra £10 for postage, 12 days after the purchase was made.
Mr Lochhead wrote to Amazon’s Marketplace director, urging the international corporation to take action.
And the firm has now pledged to “remove” those not following its guidelines.
Mr Lochhead said: “I recognise that this involves third-party sellers. However, I do feel Amazon must take responsibility for the practices of companies selling through their site.
“Amazon Marketplace is a name that has come up time and time again during my campaign. Sellers have advertised free delivery to the UK, then added additional charges for customers in the north of Scotland.
“In some instances, the sellers haven’t informed the customer about the surcharge until after their purchase has gone through, which is frankly unacceptable.”
The MSP has also written to Moray Council’s trading standards team to ask them to investigate sales through the site.
Amazon Marketplace currently has more than 10,000 independent sellers, who set their own prices and delivery fees.
Purchases through the site accounted for nearly a third of the firm’s total sales in 2015, with the company getting a percentage of every sale on the platform.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the company explained that customers buying directly from them would receive the same delivery costs regardless of where they live in the UK and Marketplace sellers must be clear about their own fees.
He added: “All Marketplace sellers must follow our selling guidelines, and instances of potential non-compliance will be investigated, with sellers subject to action including potential removal of their account.”
