Consumers claim Apple and Amazon conspired to raise iPhone prices

Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc were accused in a lawsuit of striking an unlawful deal to drive up prices for iPhones and iPads by wiping out hundreds of third-party sellers who often offered steep discounts.

Consumer Steven Floyd says an “Unlawful Boycott Agreement” between Apple and Amazon forced him to pay US$319.99 (RM1,501) for an iPad when he should have been able to get a discount in a “normal competitive market”, according to the proposed class-action complaint filed in Seattle federal court.