27 June 2016
Masku has, for the second time, violated the injunction imposed on it by the Market Court in 2009 due to its continuous discount sale marketing. The Market Court ordered Masku to pay the penalty payment of EUR 100,000 proposed by the Consumer Ombudsman.
In 2014, Maskun Kalustetalo Oy repeatedly marketed furniture at discounted prices. The duration of Masku's discount sale marketing clearly exceeded the limits set for it by the Market Court in its injunction issued in 2009 (in Finnish).
Since Masku had again violated the injunction imposed on it, the Consumer Ombudsman demanded that the Market Court order Masku to pay the conditional fine imposed.
In addition to the order to pay the conditional fine, the Market Court issued a higher conditional fine of EUR 200,000 on Masku in order to enforce its injunction issued in 2009. Furthermore, under the threat of a fine of EUR 100,000, the Market Court prohibited Masku from presenting any false claims concerning a limited offer in its marketing.
In 2011 (in Finnish), Masku was also ordered to pay a penalty payment, since its marketing in 2010 had violated the Market Court's decision.
According to the Market Court, repeated discount sale marketing hampers consumers' understanding of a company's normal price levels and, consequently, of the actual benefit of the reduced prices. This kind of discount sale marketing is misleading to consumers.
A petition for leave to appeal against the Market Court's decision may be filed during the period up to 26 August 2016.
Read more:
The Consumer Ombudsman demands that Masku pay the EUR 100,000 conditional fine imposed upon it, a press release by FCCA on 3 July 2015
The Market Court ordered Masku to make a penal payment of EUR 50,000 due to continuous discount sale marketing, a press release by the Finnish Consumer Office on 16 February 2011 (in Finnish)
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