Premiere do the winter sales today, which will last until the end of February, with optional operation of the shops on Sundays 14 and 21 January 2024.

According to the traders’ statements, after a relatively satisfactory festive period, the discount period is expected to give a new impetus to sales and the turnover of this year’s two months will exceed the approximately 6 billion euros of the corresponding period last year, while the Ministry of Development recalls that controls are continuous and intensive throughout the market.

The commercial world urges the consumer public to take advantage of the high percentages of discounts in all categories of items, while in the announcements of the trade associations, the professionals are reminded that in each announcement of a price reduction, the previous price applied by the merchant for a specified period of time before the price reduction is applied.

As mentioned on ertnews.gr, previous price means the lowest price applied by the merchant during the 30-day period before the price reduction was applied. When the product has been on the market for less than 30 days, the previous price is the lowest price applied by the merchant during the time the product has been on the market. Where the price is progressively reduced during the 30 days prior to the application of the price reduction, the previous price shall mean the price in force prior to the application of the first of the successive price reductions.

It is also emphasized that, in the event of an audit, traders must be able to prove that the old sales price shown on the sign corresponds to reality, as those who violate the provisions on discounts and reduced prices are subject to a fine equal to 1% of the annual turnover and in any case not lower than 10,000 euros. In the event that the discounts prove to be inaccurate or misleading, a fine equal to 2% of the annual turnover and in any case not less than 20,000 euros is imposed.

What consumers should watch out for

Consumers during the sales period should pay special attention to the following points:

1) During the sales period in the stores there should be posted notices that sales are taking place.

2) The listing of a double price, i.e. the original (which is usually deleted) and the new price of the products sold at a discount is mandatory, in visible places in the store and definitely in the places where the products are displayed.

3) Listing a discount percentage is not mandatory and it is at the discretion of the business whether to list a percentage or not. In case the company lists a percentage, it must be specified that it is a discount (e.g. “30% discount”).

4) There should be no confusion between discounts and offers. Discounts concern products of the season, while offers, where the discount is particularly high, usually refer to outdated items.

5) In the case of tenders, there should be a sign posted stating that tenders are being made.
Products must carry the original price and the offer price (not the discount percentage). Caution! Offers often say no changes, so if you regret it, you can’t change.

6) Pay particular attention to stores that advertise deep discounts on one or a few of their items. This does not mean that the rest of the items in these stores are cheaper than the corresponding items in other stores.

7) Be informed of the details and terms of your transaction when purchasing products in installments.

8) Do not hesitate to be accurately informed about the origin and quality of the products.
The seller must provide the consumer with all information related to the product in accordance with article 1 of Law 2251/94 before the latter makes a purchase.

9) Check with merchants if there are any changes to the items they sell during sales.
Traders are obliged to exchange defective products purchased during the sales period, unless the product is on sale due to a specific defect and the consumer has been informed of this prior to purchase with a corresponding sign.

10) You ask for a receipt, because this is the only way to prove the purchase in case of a defective product.

11) You request the instructions for use of the product and the terms of its guarantee in the Greek language.