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The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has initiated proceedings against Jura Poland and the owners of RTV Euro AGD, Media Markt and Media Expert stores – the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection said in a statement. He added that there was a suspicion that the prices of Jura coffee machines could have been set as a result of collusion.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection indicated that Jura Poland is the exclusive importer of Jura coffee machines. The office announced in a statement that, among others: During a search at the offices of several companies, the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection obtained evidence that the entrepreneur could have concluded an agreement restricting competition with authorized distributors of its products.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection initiates proceedings against large chains
– The collected evidence shows that Jura Poland could have entered into price collusion with sellers of coffee machines, including the largest electronics and household appliances stores – said Tomasz Chróstny, president of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, quoted in the release.
He added that the entrepreneurs checked by the Office may have “unauthorizedly fixed product prices for nearly 10 years.” Chróstny pointed out that this would mean that consumers could not buy coffee machines cheaper than at the imposed rates.
According to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, Jura Poland and authorized distributors could agree on minimum resale prices for coffee machines and their accessories. It was added that the information collected during the explanatory proceedings showed that the rates charged by sellers could not be lower than those established. According to the Office, promotional prices and the value of “freebies” for end customers could also be agreed upon. The arrangements could apply to both traditional sales and online stores – it was explained.
The Office noted that Jura Poland could also monitor the prices charged by authorized distributors and intervene if they were below the established level, e.g. by threatening to suspend deliveries, terminate the contract or not extend it. “The purpose of these actions could have been to put pressure on the application of prices established as a result of the agreement. Sellers could also observe each other’s activities and, if prices were too low, ask Jura Poland to intervene,” it added.
Large chains under the microscope of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection
The Office reported that the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection brought charges against Jura Poland and the company’s manager who was responsible for the entrepreneur’s distribution policy. “Proceedings are also being conducted against four important sellers of Jura coffee machines: Euro-net, Media Saturn Holding, Media Saturn Online and Terg. These are the owners of popular electronics and household appliances stores: RTV Euro AGD, Media Markt and Media Expert,” it was explained.
According to the regulations, the maximum penalty for participating in a competition-restricting agreement is 10%. turnover for the entrepreneur and PLN 2 million for managers.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection reminded that severe sanctions can be avoided thanks to the leniency program. It was explained that it gives the entrepreneur participating in the illegal agreement and the managers responsible for the collusion a chance to reduce and sometimes avoid a fine.
Positions of companies in connection with the proceedings of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection
We asked Jura Poland and the owners of RTV Euro AGD, Media Markt and Media Expert stores to comment on the proceedings of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.
“At the moment, we are reviewing the documentation, the case is ongoing. That’s why we don’t want to comment on it too hastily” – this is what Joanna Luto from Jura Poland told the tvn24.pl business editorial team.
“We are currently analyzing the content of the decision and the evidence cited, and any possible reference to them will be possible after detailed review and verification of the received documentation,” wrote Klara Ufnalewska, Head of PR & Sustainability at MediaMarktSaturn Polska.
We did not receive any response from the remaining companies until the article was published.
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