CONSUMER LAW | Poltronesofà under investigation for misleading prices and discounts

On 7 February 2025, the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) announced the launch of an investigation proceedings (PS12704) against Poltronesofà S.p.A., a well-known Italian furniture company specialised in sofas and armchairs, for alleged unfair commercial practices related to its advertising campaigns. Notably, Poltronesofà has allegedly failed to accurately display prices and discounts in its television, radio, social media, and online promotional campaigns, emphasizing price reductions and discount rates, often presented as limited-time offers (e.g., “ending Sunday”) and calculated on inflated strike-out prices that were rarely, if ever, applied. According to the AGCM (that has ruled against Poltronesofà in 2021, with Decision No. 29626, sanctioning the company for similar conduct), this practice may have misled consumers into believing they were receiving significant discounts, thus influencing their purchasing decisions.

Newsletter n. 104 – February 2025