The Georgian National Competition Agency, in order to protect the consumer's rights, established the fact of unfair commercial activity from the trader.
In the mentioned case, the trader’s Facebook store "Best Shop" offers goods at a special price in a seemingly short period of time, using fake countdown timers. In particular, there is a 24-hour deadline for purchasing an item at the promotional price, however, the offer continues the next day and the timer starts counting down again.
According to the Agency's assessment, making a false statement on the part of the trader, that the goods will be available and/or special conditions will apply only for a short period of time, with the aim of making the consumer make an instant decision and not giving them enough time and opportunity to make an informed decision, is a misleading activity. Legally, this action is "Fake Urgency" when the consumer is under time pressure and has less time to make an informed decision.
Accordingly, to protect the consumer rights, the Competition Agency established the standard of time-limited offer. The purpose of the Agency's decision is to prevent the manipulative marketing ploy of misleading special commercial offer fake countdown timers as an unfair commercial practice.
Also, from the position of the Agency: The trader's trade policy is not in compliance with the law even in the part of consumer awareness. In particular: 1. Information is not provided in the state language of Georgia; 2. Does not include the name of the goods or services and relevant essential characteristics 3. No information regarding the legal warranty (if commercial), replacement/repair of the item, price reduction and withdrawal from the contract.
According to the decision of the Agency, the trader was ordered to restore the violated rights of consumers within one month and to make his trading policy conform to the requirements of the law.
