Contents
What?
ERLI filed a lawsuit against Allegro, accusing the platform of restricting competition in the digital world.
Why?
According to ERLI, the mechanisms used are intended to limit sellers' freedom of pricing policy and influence price increases for buyers.
Who is it for?
For marketplace sellers, online store owners, and consumers.
Background:
The Polish marketplace market has found itself at the center of a high-profile dispute. ERLI announced it has filed a lawsuit against Allegro , citing practices that, according to the company, violate fair competition principles and impact seller operations and consumer prices. The case is systemic in nature and concerns the mechanisms shaping online commerce in Poland. This is one of those moments that could have a real impact on the future of the marketplace market and the relationship between platforms and merchants.
What is ERLI and what market vision does it represent?
ERLI is a Polish marketplace that, from its inception, has emphasized lower selling costs for merchants as the foundation of healthy competition. The platform's premise is simple: if sellers incur lower fees, they can offer customers more attractive prices. ERLI positions itself as an alternative to dominant players, particularly for companies
seeking to develop online sales without significant cost pressures. In recent years, the platform has invested in technological development, logistics
, and tools to support sales in the digital world.
Why did ERLI decide to sue?
According to ERLI, the mechanisms used by Allegro limit the ability to offer lower prices outside of a single sales platform. In practice, the company emphasizes, this translates into less freedom for sellers and higher prices visible to consumers. ERLI believes that such actions create a market advantage that hinders fair competition for other entities in the digital world. The decision to take legal action was preceded by a legal analysis and industry consultations.
What allegations does ERLI raise?
- Limiting the independence of sellers in shaping pricing policy.
- Impact on price increases visible to consumers.
- Creating a hard-to-balance market advantage.
- Weakening competition in the dynamically developing digital world.
ERLI emphasizes that the aim of the lawsuit is not to destabilize the market,
but to protect the rules that allow fair competition and the development of online sales.
What does this situation mean for sellers?
The platform reassures merchants – the daily operations of sales on ERLI remain unchanged . Sellers continue to fulfill orders, develop offers, and operate their online stores without additional formal obligations. The legal proceedings are being conducted by dedicated teams, and their goal is to improve long-term operating conditions in the digital world. ERLI also announces further investments in platform development and lower sales costs.
The significance of the dispute for the marketplace market in Poland
ERLI's lawsuit against Allegro could become a significant benchmark for the entire online trading market in Poland. If the case leads to changes in the way large platforms operate, sellers could gain greater freedom, and consumers could gain real price competition. This signals that the marketplace market in Poland is entering a phase of mature debate about the rules of the game . For the digital world, this could mean greater transparency and balance between platforms and merchants. You can find more analyses of changes in online trading in the Świat Cyfrowy knowledge base .
How might this conflict impact the future of online commerce?
Regardless of the final outcome, the very fact that legal action has been taken
demonstrates the growing awareness of sellers and platforms regarding fair competition.
The industry will be closely monitoring developments in the coming months,
as its effects could set new standards for marketplace operations in Poland.
The ERLI vs. Allegro case has already become one of the most important topics in the digital world.
Marcin Stadnik
e-commerce advisor
The author is a manager with extensive experience in e-commerce, sales strategy, and content marketing. He is a digital practitioner and consultant with over 15 years of experience in e-commerce projects, sales strategy, and online business development, as well as 25 years of experience in broadly defined distribution (offline and online). He specializes in creating and implementing effective solutions for online stores, supporting companies in developing their digital presence. He co-creates appropriate strategies for e-businesses, conducts audits, and oversees marketing activities—always combining analytical knowledge with market practice. He is the author and co-author of content published on the swiatcyfrowy.pl website—based on his many years of consulting, analytical, and operational experience. The materials created are intended to provide reliable, valuable knowledge that truly supports the development of online businesses. The content here is designed to address the real challenges and needs of companies operating in the e-commerce environment (the digital world).
