We analyze the effects of asymmetric switching costs on two identical firms that produce an homogeneous good and compete in prices. Both firms inherit a fraction of the market which is “locked-in” by the switching costs. When switching costs are low, firms face a tradeoff between charging a...

The online grocery market has seen significant entry over the last five years by firms with different business models. Most firms offer subscriptions, and, in the data, consumers rarely switch between them. I find that switching costs significantly affect consumer platform choice, suggesting...