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Three retailers broke law on sales pricing

Three retailers pleaded guilty to breaking legislation on sales pricing in Dublin District Court this morning (10 March).

The prosecutions, against Lifestyle Sports (Ireland), DID Electrical Appliances, and Rath-Wood Home & Garden World, were brought by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). 

The watchdog’s move came after it carried out online sweeps over the 2023-2024 winter sales season – including Black Friday. 

2022 legislation 

The three retailers were ordered to pay €1,000 each to the Little Flower Penny Dinners charity and to pay the costs of the CCPC. 

Section 1(1) of the Probation Act is to be applied in each case upon compliance with the court order. 

The CCPC says that these prosecutions are the first brought under legislation on pricing introduced in 2022. 

The law requires traders to base any discount on the lowest price in at least the previous 30 days, and to display this price clearly on any price tag or advertisement. 

The watchdog says that other traders have been investigated, and further prosecutions may follow. 

Transparency ‘vital’ 

The prosecutions were under the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002. 

CCPC Chair Brian McHugh said that misleading sale discounts harmed consumers and competition. 

“It is vital that traders are transparent with consumers, displaying prices clearly and accurately. Businesses must be able to compete openly and honestly, and consumers must be able to shop with confidence,” he stated. 

The maximum fine per offence is €5,000, but the commission has been calling for changes in the law to give it the power to impose larger fines for serious offences.