In August of last year, the Russian authorities initiated an investigation to find out if Apple imposes the sales prices of the iPhone in the country. Well, that investigation has been completed, and the Russian authorities are now accusing the American company of having done this.
Apple then stated that its local partners set the prices of iPhone terminals sold in Russia by themselves, but the federal antimonopoly authority came to a different conclusion. According to it, Apple forced Russian retailers to sell iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S at the prices imposed by it, 16 of the partners located having exactly the same prices.
In the event that a partner sets a different price, Apple contacts them forcing them to change it, or they will no longer receive terminals for sale. In the face of these accusations, the Apple company did not make any statement, but the Russian authorities say that there was cooperation from the company to repair possible illegalities committed in the country.
No one knows what this means, but the Apple company could be forced to pay fines for what it did and how it affected competition in the country. What was discovered in Russia is exactly what is happening in most of Europe, but only the Russians had the opportunity to reveal how the Apple company operates.
"The investigation revealed that since the start of official sales in Russia of the Apple iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, most resellers installed the same prices on them as recommended by Apple Rus and supported them for about 3 months. At the same time, Apple Rus monitored retail prices for Apple iPhone smartphones installed by resellers in online stores and retail outlets, and, in case of setting "unsuitable" prices, the Russian subsidiary Apple sent emails to resellers with a request to change them. Also, compliance with recommended retail prices by resellers could be due to the provisions of contracts between Apple Rus and resellers."
