Tarjoustalo - good example

[Rosamunda]

True but in some EU countries (France) discounting is heavily regulated and shopkeepers must be able to prove that discounted items were on sale at a higher price for a certain period of time prior to discounting. Sales are restricted to a certain number of days per year and the start and end dates are decreed by the government.

You choose.

[harryc]

True but in some EU countries (France) discounting is heavily regulated and shopkeepers must be able to prove that discounted items were on sale at a higher price for a certain period of time prior to discounting.

My understanding is that much of that is true in Finland - and has been for many years. I fear though that it is not checked very much - and the enforcement is such that one is warned to stop - and if itcontinues one is subject to relatively minor penalties.

C
Violations of oonsumer law - in general - carries very weak penalties and corporations can almost think it pays to act illegally and just pay the small potatoes fine - if it is even assessed.

[Upphew]

Three months in a year and maximum of two months consecutively. Suomisoffa got 100k fine for a sales that were going on for last week... for eight months.

[harryc]

Suomisoffa got 100k fine for a sales that were going on for last week... for eight months.

Let's hope it really sticks (that company must really 'love' the stories that pop up when you Google them).

Anyhow I do really wonder about how these 'rules' are enforced - downtown Helsinki is filled with windows basically PAINTED with -50% for the last couple of years.

[Upphew]

Suomisoffa got 100k fine for a sales that were going on for last week... for eight months.

Let's hope it really sticks (that company must really 'love' the stories that pop up when you Google them).

Bankruptcy did take care of that company.

[harryc]

harryc wrote:
Suomisoffa got 100k fine for a sales that were going on for last week... for eight months.


Let's hope it really sticks (that company must really 'love' the stories that pop up when you Google them).

Bankruptcy did take care of that company.

The usual thing is that the same 'management' just starts up a new company with the same 'principles.'

[Rosamunda]

The usual thing is that the same 'management' just starts up a new company with the same 'principles.'

I think that is pretty unlikely if the owners go down owing money to the tax office... Finland is quite vicious in the way it deals with entrepreneurs who owe money to the state. It has long been an obstacle to entrepreneurship in Finland: prison, huge penalties taken from future earnings and then a life-long ban from starting up a new company. If I remember correctly, Finland has received criticism from the EU in the way it deals with "rogue" entrepreneurs.

[harryc]

Sorry to be such a cynic but while everything you say is correct - I have seen more times than you can shake a stick at - 'disreputable' people getting RIGHT BACK 'in business' via wives, children. friends, girl-boyfriends, etc. And very often lawyers find holes in the system so that bans, etc. have holes you can drive trucks through.

It would be great if these people would exercise such 'creative' thinking on the side of the consumer - they might be surprised to find they developed a thriving business!

[Upphew]

And very often lawyers find holes in the system so that bans, etc. have holes you can drive trucks through.

You dare to call Estonia a hole (a-hole?)?!?

[harryc]

I wasn't even thinking of all the monkey business caused by the possibilities due to connections with Estonia - there are probably enough 'crooks' per capita there among 'original' Estonians - but fear they have been joined by similar 'colleagues' from Finland and Russia. One good thing is that Finland and Estonia are subject more and more to the same legislation (EU).