The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Wednesday it fined Wayfair for misleading customers with many products remaining available at the same price or lower after the stated deadline, meaning the time-limited offer was false.
The CMA also fined home appliance retailer Appliances Direct £1.2m for misleading time-limited offers and City-based gym group Gold’s gym for failing to clearly list the total membership price.
The chief executive of the appliance firm’s parent company, Nick Glynne, said that the fine comes as “we fight the battle of our lives against an unprecedented wave of competition from Chinese traders, alongside rising employment costs, taxes and regulation.” But Hayley Fletcher, senior director for consumer protection at the CMA said “the time is up for this kind of behaviour. Businesses must treat their customers fairly and make sure they comply with the law, or risk hefty fines”.
Wayfair among firms hit with £6m fine for ‘misleading’ sales tactics