Charles Tyrwhitt, Sports Direct and Victoria Plum savings claims probed
Price claims continue to occupy the Advertising Standards Authority with campaigns by three big brands under the spotlight in June. Mike Ahyow reports.
All Articles in Prices
Ultra Finishing Ltd fined £786,688 for resale price maintenance
Following an investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority has slapped a substantial fine on a bathroom supplies specialist for imposing illegal RPM on online retailers. Barney Sich reports.
Broadband price claims regime to change
From October 2016, the Advertising Standards Authority has decreed that the regulatory regime for price claims in broadband ads will be much stricter. Jamie Heatly reports.
Grocers asked to engage with Trading Standards on “Was/now” offers
The Competition and Markets Authority has published a follow-up report on a super-complaint by Which? concerning allegedly misleading grocery promotions. As a result, a number of supermarkets are being asked to “engage with” Trading Standards. Jamie Heatly reports.
Argos and Victoria Plum price reduction claims probed
Argos claimed a hairstraightener “was £64.99 [now] £32.49 half price”. Victoria Plum offered a basin unit for “£199 was £299 you save £100.” The ASA ignored the official Pricing Practices Guide when adjudicating on both claims. Chloe Dumoulin-Richet reports.
Competition and Markets Authority alleges online resale price maintenance
Competition and Markets Authority alleges online resale price maintenance The CMA has issued statements of objections to unrelated bathroom fittings and commercial refrigeration parts suppliers. It alleges that each illegally imposed a minimum advertised price for online sales. Barney Sich reports.
Sainsbury’s challenges Tesco “Never pay more for your branded shop” campaign
Sainsbury’s challenges Tesco “Never pay more for your branded shop” campaign CAP’s copy team had cleared it, but was Tesco’s offer to refund the difference if a basket of non “own brand” products was cheaper at Asda, Morrisons or Sainsbury’s misleading? Chloe Deng reports
ASA investigates Opodo flight prices
Online travel agent Opodo quoted prices for flights that included a pre-applied discount which was only available using pre-pay Visa card Entropay. Was this misleading? Jude King reports.
Face Forward 2016: What will be the key marketing law milestones of the year to come?
At Osborne Clarke’s 17th “Look Back, Face Forward” marketing law forum on 2 December 2015, Jude King and Stephen Groom made their predictions. Catch their slides here.
New official price claims guidance looms
Following mounting criticism of the current, 2010-published BIS Pricing Practices Guide, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute is consulting on proposed new guidance following input from the Competition and Markets Authority and Which? Claire Temple reports
ASA upholds complaint against Lastminute.com for misleading striking out of prices
Holiday booking site Lastminute.com tried to emphasise the savings on their website by striking out a standard hotel room price in favour of a lower price. However, was the basis of comparison accurate and fair? Thomas Spanyol reports.
GAP defends 40% off promotion
An e-mail headline said “Everything under the sun. It’s all 40% off…excluding sale items.” Small print below said” Offer applies to select products as indicated [in store]” Surely this was not misleading? Stephen Groom and Anna Kehely report on the ASA’s finding.
