The Department of Business and Labor has detected irregularities in more than 50% of the offers analyzed during Black Friday sales. After an analysis prior to the offers, anomalies were detected in nine online stores, including PC Componentes, Carrefour, Euronics, FNAC, Miró, El Corte Inglés, Media Markt, Conforama and Alcampo. The Catalan Consumer Agency has specified that, of the 899 analysed, 454 products have been altered.
This is how the department explained in a statement that, after an analysis during the weeks prior to the offers on November 25, it detected non-compliance in half of 1,400 products. The study focused on computer, telephone, small household appliances or household products offered over the Internet. In accordance with an EU directive, companies that lower prices, also offered in the same establishment under normal conditions, are obliged to show the previous price together with the lowered one.
On the other hand, the General Directorate of Commerce has inspected 61 companies, both physical and online, and has detected between 50% and 60% of non-compliances in the 488 products analyzed. Specifically, it has carried out face-to-face inspections in 29 companies and online inspections in 32 internet sales portals.
For the moment, these companies are expected to receive requirements in the coming days while the process is in preliminary proceedings, so the companies can still present allegations. If they do not prosper, then sanctioning files will be opened where an infringing conduct is verified.
Fines for unfair commercial practices can carry the sum of between 10,001 and 100,000 euros depending on the number of products offered, the volume of sales and the profit obtained from the infringing conduct.
