At the end of the year, beware of the "fake discount" trap, where prices are artificially inflated before being lowered.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - The National Competition Commission warns against the tactic of inflating original prices and then drastically reducing them to create artificial scarcity during the year-end period. Consumers need to check their price history and save receipts to avoid falling into the trap of fake promotions.

The year-end shopping season is the most vibrant time for the market, with numerous promotional programs launched on e-commerce platforms, retail chains, and distribution systems, featuring attractive discount slogans such as "shocking discounts," "today's exclusive offer," "year-end clearance sale," etc.

However, according to the National Competition Commission ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), opaque promotional practices still exist, such as raising prices then lowering them, creating artificial scarcity, or announcing false offers to deceive consumers. These actions pose a risk of infringing on consumers' right to accurate information and their right to choose.

Authorities point out that the most common "fake discount" trick is to inflate the original price before applying a deep discount of 50-70%, creating the illusion of a great deal, but the price after the discount is actually not cheaper than the market price.

Furthermore, sellers create a sense of scarcity with announcements such as "only 1 item left," "almost sold out," causing buyers to make hasty decisions without verification. In addition, many products are heavily discounted but are of poor quality, do not match the description, lack origin information, and pose potential safety risks to consumers.

Many stores are offering huge discounts (Photo: Minh Huyen).

According to the National Competition Commission, the 2023 Law on Consumer Rights Protection stipulates that consumers have the right to be provided with complete and accurate information about selling prices, discounts, and promotional conditions; providing "fictitious prices" or misleading information may be considered deceptive behavior.

When their rights are violated, consumers have the right to file complaints, request refunds, exchanges, or compensation for damages. At the same time, consumers can report fraudulent activities to the Department of Industry and Trade, submit complaints through the agency's website, etc.

To minimize risks and protect their rights during peak shopping seasons, the National Competition Commission recommends that consumers check the price history of products, choose reputable brands and businesses, avoid buying from independent sellers or those with no information or many negative reviews, keep all invoices and transaction evidence to protect their rights, and be wary of overly attractive offers.

Consumers should be cautious when encountering products offered at excessively deep discounts, far exceeding market prices; under unusual conditions; or with unclear information regarding the supplier, quality, or safety certifications.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/cuoi-nam-coi-chung-bay-giam-gia-ao-nang-khong-roi-ha-gia-20251213153540249.htm