Price Fixing in Spain
Oct 18th 2019, 7:14 am
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Elorrio, Bizkaia
Posts: 969
Price Fixing in Spain
Has anyone experienced this? I don't know whether it is still legal in Spain or not or whether companies are flouting the law. I don't know whether in Spain there is Retail Price Maintenance.
I have been looking into possibly purchasing a certain audio streaming/CD player and the price is the same wherever you go, which in my case was a well-reputed audio dealer in Bilbao. The price was €799. Looking on the internet at home, lo & behold, the price is exactly the same, whether in El Corte Ingles, FNAC, Media Markt or even Amazon.es. He said if I found a cheaper price only in Spain, he would match it. Guess what, all the same price!
Coincidentally I have found a report from the EU stating that 4 electronics companies had been fined for anti-trust price fixing, and one of these companies was the one whose audio model I was interested in.....Marantz.
I cannot attach attach the website from the EU as the file extension is .htm but it is in google under 'retail price maintenance', then scroll down to 'European Press Release' and open that link.
I also find the same problem with other consumables, whether books, DVD's, tools & equipment (eg chain saws) in Spain. For this reason, I often avoid buying here & prefer UK online, even though there is often less comeback.
I have been looking into possibly purchasing a certain audio streaming/CD player and the price is the same wherever you go, which in my case was a well-reputed audio dealer in Bilbao. The price was €799. Looking on the internet at home, lo & behold, the price is exactly the same, whether in El Corte Ingles, FNAC, Media Markt or even Amazon.es. He said if I found a cheaper price only in Spain, he would match it. Guess what, all the same price!
Coincidentally I have found a report from the EU stating that 4 electronics companies had been fined for anti-trust price fixing, and one of these companies was the one whose audio model I was interested in.....Marantz.
I cannot attach attach the website from the EU as the file extension is .htm but it is in google under 'retail price maintenance', then scroll down to 'European Press Release' and open that link.
I also find the same problem with other consumables, whether books, DVD's, tools & equipment (eg chain saws) in Spain. For this reason, I often avoid buying here & prefer UK online, even though there is often less comeback.
Oct 18th 2019, 7:27 am
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2019
Location: jalon valley costa Blanca
Posts: 4,052
Re: Price Fixing in Spain
Originally Posted by Retired in Euskadi
Has anyone experienced this? I don't know whether it is still legal in Spain or not or whether companies are flouting the law. I don't know whether in Spain there is Retail Price Maintenance.
I have been looking into possibly purchasing a certain audio streaming/CD player and the price is the same wherever you go, which in my case was a well-reputed audio dealer in Bilbao. The price was €799. Looking on the internet at home, lo & behold, the price is exactly the same, whether in El Corte Ingles, FNAC, Media Markt or even Amazon.es. He said if I found a cheaper price only in Spain, he would match it. Guess what, all the same price!
Coincidentally I have found a report from the EU stating that 4 electronics companies had been fined for anti-trust price fixing, and one of these companies was the one whose audio model I was interested in.....Marantz.
I cannot attach attach the website from the EU as the file extension is .htm but it is in google under 'retail price maintenance', then scroll down to 'European Press Release' and open that link.
I also find the same problem with other consumables, whether books, DVD's, tools & equipment (eg chain saws) in Spain. For this reason, I often avoid buying here & prefer UK online, even though there is often less comeback.
I have been looking into possibly purchasing a certain audio streaming/CD player and the price is the same wherever you go, which in my case was a well-reputed audio dealer in Bilbao. The price was €799. Looking on the internet at home, lo & behold, the price is exactly the same, whether in El Corte Ingles, FNAC, Media Markt or even Amazon.es. He said if I found a cheaper price only in Spain, he would match it. Guess what, all the same price!
Coincidentally I have found a report from the EU stating that 4 electronics companies had been fined for anti-trust price fixing, and one of these companies was the one whose audio model I was interested in.....Marantz.
I cannot attach attach the website from the EU as the file extension is .htm but it is in google under 'retail price maintenance', then scroll down to 'European Press Release' and open that link.
I also find the same problem with other consumables, whether books, DVD's, tools & equipment (eg chain saws) in Spain. For this reason, I often avoid buying here & prefer UK online, even though there is often less comeback.
Oct 18th 2019, 9:51 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Costa Blanca
Posts: 2,381
Re: Price Fixing in Spain
Yes I have noticed this on some items - but currently, I am looking for a new TV and these do seem to vary - although often it is difficult to compare prices as some models appear to be store exclusive but I wonder about this also!
Oct 18th 2019, 4:56 pm
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 627
Re: Price Fixing in Spain
When we purchased the TV for the flat in March, the price in Carrefour was about €15 cheaper than the electric shop in Polop for the exact same model. But we went with the local shop as they delivered it and supplied a selection of cables to connect to the socket as the one supplied was not long enough (for free)
Not noticed prices being the same, but last week I wanted to get a new Coffee maker (Nestle one) and all the shops were having a deal, but they were all sold out....
Not noticed prices being the same, but last week I wanted to get a new Coffee maker (Nestle one) and all the shops were having a deal, but they were all sold out....
