French retailer eBizcuss has filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming unfair competition. Citing French-language Le Figaro, ifoAppleStore reports that the complaint alleges that Apple favors its own retail stores when shipping new products.
eBizcuss CEO François Prudent says that his 16 locations in France suffered a 30 percent decline in business during Q3 2011 after supply of iPad 2 and MacBook Air units dried up, and in Q4, his business was unable to obtain any iPhone 4S units. Prudent goes on to claim that he can trace the product shortages to the opening of Apple’s Carousel del Louvre store in late 2009, and that Apple is soliciting his business customers directly.
“The proposals submitted to Apple commercial enterprises are lower than prices at which we buy the equipment,” Prudent claims. Apple has yet to comment on the suit.