Just in time for the holidays, Apple and Amazon have teamed up to stick it to the little guys. Namely, in exchange for a direct line to Apple’s goods, Amazon has agreed to cut out unauthorized third-party resellers.
At the moment, most Apple products aren’t available on Amazon unless you’re going through its marketplace. Wading through the listings can be murky. Prices can vary widely, and it’s not always clear if what you’re buying will be up to snuff. The Apple-Amazon deal will offer up newer devices directly from Apple, like the iPad Pro, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, Apple Watch Series 4, and Beats headphones. (Not the HomePod though, probably because Amazon doesn’t want more competition for the Echo.)
The catch is soon only Apple and Apple-authorized resellers will be able to host their wares on Amazon. Everybody else will have their listings removed starting January 4, 2019. Their only recourse? Applying to Apple for authorization—a seemingly tedious process that requires resellers to pay up. Right now it’s unclear how many small business will be impacted, but it’s probably safe to assume… quite a few.
While the gut reaction might be to point the finger at Apple, which is notoriously close-guarded with its products, it takes two to tango. This deal is another reminder that while Amazon might present itself like an open marketplace, it has no qualms pushing aside the little guy, including indie Mac refurbishers, if doing so will make them bank. It also struck a deal with Nike in 2017 to cut out third-party sneaker sellers.
This new deal is the latest in warming relations between Apple and Amazon. After feuding over everything from the Apple TV to e-books, it seems like the best place to bury the hatchet is under a giant pile of cold, hard cash.