I want you to dream with me that Amazon was the property owner of a building, which you were renting out for your business.

Stay with me here.

Imagine you started a company selling some great products- some of which were your own, and some were other brands. You decide to rent out a store owned by Amazon. You create the signs, interior displays, banners, etc. and make the store look great, and how you want it to look. You have a great product, and great storefront. People come. Business is good.

Then one day, some random person comes into your store and says, "Hey, I sell some of the same stuff you do. I am going to bring my products here, and I'm going sell them in your parking lot, and I'm going to list them for a dollar cheaper than you."

You laugh at this guy and tell him to get lost, but the next day he does exactly what he says. All of his products (which are similar to yours) are set up in the parking lot, and customers are seeing them first, and buying them from him. You call the police, but their hands are tied because they can't do anything, as they require vocal permission from the property owner to do anything. You then call the property owner, which is Amazon.

In an oddly robotic tone, Amazon sighs and says, "Well.....actually that random guy CAN sell his products in the parking lot, because we decided that's a good business tactic for us, and we'll charge him some rent, too. Oh, and if people don't like the products you sell, or if they break them, they can be returned for a full refund."

You hang up the phone in shock. Can this be true? Your business will be ruined. You've already lost thousands of dollars in theft.

Does all of this seem too dystopian or far fetched?

It's happening online to us RIGHT NOW.