Pakistani shoe and clothing brands warn of ‘deceptive marketing’

• Brands that violate the directive face enforcement action: CCP.
• Discrepancies were observed in approximately 96% of outlets.
• The Chinese Communist Party advises consumers to be careful when shopping.

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has warned footwear and clothing brands to fully and visibly disclose the actual and discounted prices of sale items. news It was reported on Sunday.

“Brands that violate this directive may face enforcement measures by the Chinese Communist Party,” the advisory issued by the Chinese Communist Party says.

The Chinese Communist Party has uncovered instances of deceptive marketing practices amid seasonal discounts, particularly for clothing and footwear brands. Preliminary investigations indicate that such conduct may violate section 10 of the Competition Act 2010 and amount to deceptive marketing.

The Chinese Communist Party’s investigation and preliminary investigation has identified 27 brands offering “flat” discounts on their products. However, the Chinese Communist Party realized that the “uniform discount” did not apply to all items. The discounted price advertised outside the store was higher than the actual selling price inside the store. The font size of the disclaimer regarding “Terms of Use” could not be read. In many cases, there was no mention of “Terms of Use” at all.

Additionally, certain offers, such as “flat rate 50% plus 20% with bank card,” had different terms for online and in-store purchases, creating confusion and leading consumers to make uninformed purchases. This could have led to misunderstandings.

These discrepancies were observed in approximately 96% of the outlets surveyed. The lack of disclosures containing important information hinders consumers’ ability to make informed decisions.

The Chinese Communist Party advised consumers to remain vigilant and thoroughly check the terms and conditions of discounts and sales to avoid falling victim to deceptive marketing practices.

The Chinese Communist Party has already issued “Article 10: Guidelines on Deceptive Marketing Practices,” which also prohibits “bait advertising.” This is the practice of advertising a product at a lower price but charging a higher price at the time of purchase.

These guidelines highlight our commitment to clearly disclosing our Terms and Conditions across all media to avoid creating false impressions about the products offered. We strongly discourage disclaimers in small print that are difficult to read or that hide important information.

The Communist Party of China continues to comply with its obligations under competition law and strives to ensure free competition, improve economic efficiency, and protect consumers from anti-competitive conduct.