Another ethical mis-step from Amazon Japan

Amazon is often a bit of a lifeline for me, and probably for a lot of us. However, the ethics of the company are questionable from time to time, and I know that other posts on here have highlighted some of those sketchy business practices. So when I heard that Amazon Japan was just ordered to pay 35 million yen (around $244,000) for allowing fake products to be sold on its platform, I was more than a little concerned.

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The Tokyo District Court ruled that Amazon failed to properly deal with counterfeit goods, even after being notified. The case involved a Kobe-based company selling pulse oximeters, and their real products were pushed aside while a fake (sold for a fraction of the price) got promoted instead. If that wasn’t enough, when the distributor asked Amazon for help, their genuine listing got taken down entirely, while the fake stayed up.

The court recognized that big platforms like Amazon have a duty to protect sellers and buyers by setting up stronger systems against counterfeits. It's a landmark ruling, but I think it’s also a good wake-up call for us as consumers.

I know a lot of us expats (myself included) rely heavily on Amazon Japan because it’s convenient and familiar, but this case reminds me that we have to be careful. Sometimes the "great deal" we spot might not be what it seems. I'll definitely be double-checking sellers and reading reviews a little more carefully going forward. I would also recommend reading this article from helloalissa which covers an interesting cost comparison between Amazon and another site. It’s a good reminder that Amazon isn’t always the cheapest option, and shopping small can benefit your wallet.