Newsroom
Cypriot authorities fined Lidl supermarkets €80,000 for misleading advertising, citing unfair commercial practices following complaints submitted by consumers.
The German chain of grocery stores was assessed the administrative fine on the basis of EU rules on unfair commercial practices from 2007 until 2013.
Specifically, Lidl was accused of using the practice of misleading advertising on some products labeled “While Stocks Last” which, according to the Consumers Protection Department, gave the false impression that the products were being sold only for a limited time.
Department officials said there was no justification as to why Lidl could not bring additional supplies at the same price
Other products were labeled “Offer” which gave a mistaken view that the products were being sold for a special low price.
Another Lidl practice under scrutiny had to do with advertising brochures, which announced the sale of special items at low prices but only during specific periods.
Department officials said in their decision that the company did not offer reasonable justification as to why Lidl could not bring additional supplies at the same price shortly after the allotted time, concluding that this was nothing but a bait technique.
