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.
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.
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 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 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 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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
A sales promotion shelf label said “Normal price £139.99 today £118.99” .A complaint suggested the higher price had only applied for a few days before the promotion, with £111.99 the price for some weeks beforehand. Fiona Schneider reports.
