The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has initiated legal proceedings against several retailers across Ireland for alleged breaches of sales pricing regulations. The retailers in question span a variety of sectors, including electronics, cosmetics, furniture, and clothing.
The alleged pricing violations were uncovered during a series of inspections conducted by the CCPC throughout the 2023-2024 winter sales period, which included both the January sales and Black Friday promotions.
Brian McHugh, chairperson of the CCPC, stated that the commission had carried out extensive inspections of both online and in-store pricing during these key sales periods. While many retailers were found to be in compliance with the law, the CCPC also identified several businesses where widespread violations occurred.
“Our inspectors saw many excellent examples of accurate sales pricing and sales communications. However, we also identified retailers where there were significant and widespread breaches of the law,” McHugh explained. “Those traders are now being prosecuted by the CCPC, with the first wave of cases scheduled to appear in court in January.”
The CCPC further revealed that several other retailers had been interviewed under caution, and additional prosecutions are expected in the coming months. McHugh emphasized that misleading sale discounts not only harm consumers but also distort competition. “Businesses need to be able to compete for consumers openly and honestly on price,” he added.
This announcement comes as the Black Friday weekend, a major retail event, kicks off with retailers offering various discounts in an effort to attract shoppers. The CCPC has also stated that its consumer protection officers will be out in force this weekend, inspecting discounts to ensure they are genuine and in line with regulations.
“The CCPC is calling on both consumers and business owners to report any suspected fake discounts or misleading pricing to the commission,” McHugh said.
In response to growing concerns over misleading sales, new regulations were introduced in November 2022 to increase transparency in pricing. Under these rules, retailers must clearly display the previous price of a product—reflecting the lowest price it was offered at in the last 30 days—alongside any sale price.
As the busy shopping season approaches, shoppers are being urged to exercise caution, particularly when purchasing online. According to recent research by the national registry for the .ie domain, one in four Irish adults has fallen victim to online fraud, with two-thirds reporting financial losses. Despite this, less than half of consumers prioritize security when shopping online.
The CCPC’s focus on these sales pricing regulations highlights its ongoing efforts to ensure fair competition and consumer protection in the marketplace.
