Sony Limiting Direct Sales of TVs Through Amazon

Sony at least temporarily is limiting direct sales of TVs through Amazon as the companies work to heal to heal a rift over Sony’s minimum advertised price policy, sources told Consumer Electronics Daily. The dispute apparently doesn’t affect Sony TVs sold through Amazon’s authorized resellers, including Electronic Express, Electronics Expo, Abt Electronics, J&R and others, according to a check Monday of Amazon.com.

The assortment of Sony TVs available Monday though Amazon was limited. Sony’s digital cameras and other AV gear didn’t appear to be affected. But numerous Sony TVs, like the KDL-52W4100 52-inch ($1,474) and the KDL-46V400 1080p-capable 46-inch ($979), were displayed on the Amazon’s site listed as having only five or two models left in stock. Some these appeared to be 2009 models that were being replaced, but none of the other TV brands on the site had such limited availability. The Sony sizes affected ranged from 26 to 52 inches. Most of the TVs Amazon was carrying Monday were largely through third-party resellers that ship product to the buyer.

The rift between Sony and Amazon had been brewing for some time, but only came to a head during the past week, sources said. Among the issues between the companies was Amazon’s sometimes featuring a “see price in cart” tab that reveals a lower retail than is shown on the front web page. Sony’s MAP policy has sought to stop those promotions.

Amazon didn’t respond right away to requests for comment Monday. Sony “doesn’t typically comment on our business relationships, unless the retailers “deem it appropriate,” a spokeswoman said. But a Sony statement issued last week that some resellers aren’t in “total alignment” with the company’s MAP policy “still holds true,” the spokeswoman said. The spokeswoman declined to comment on whether Amazon was among those resellers.