TikTok, Amazon, and John Lewis refuse to appear in UK Parliament over Black Friday concerns
TikTok, Amazon and John Lewis have declined to appear before the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee for a hearing on mis-selling of consumer items ahead of Black Friday.
The committee heard evidence from consumer group Which? and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute this week about whether online prices are inflated ahead of the Black Friday discount season and other online sales tactics and their impact on consumers.
The committee noted that the pre-Christmas shopping rush can leave consumers exposed to shoddy or dangerous goods, misleading pricing and sales practices that range from dodgy to outright fraudulent.
Online, shoppers can also find it harder to authenticate products and easier to be misled by manipulated prices.
MPs will now examine whether the government and the Competition and Markets Authority have the powers and capacity to protect consumers – and whether those powers are being used effectively.
“People hunting for a bargain this Black Friday should be able to trust the price they see and the goods they buy. Too often, they are left trying to work out whether the discount is real or the product is genuine,” said Rt Hon Liam Byrne, Chair of the Committee.
“TikTok, Amazon and John Lewis are major players in the way people shop. So it’s deeply disappointing that they have declined to come and explain to Parliament how consumers are protected.
“Their refusal to appear and clear up allegations leaves us with little option but to now deepen our investigations into whether Black Friday is becoming yet another rip-off.
