The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) in Poland has imposed fines on a Polish bathroom equipment distributor and two of its managers for engaging in price-fixing practices in the bathroom equipment sector. The company had enforced minimum resale prices across online stores for at least a year, effectively preventing independent sellers from offering lower prices and depriving consumers of potential savings.
© Tanasin Srijaroensirikul | Dreamstime
Oltens 1 closely monitored partner pricing and threatened penalties, including withholding product deliveries or blocking access to its platform, for any retailer that sold below the set prices.
UOKiK clarified that while "suggested retail prices" are legal, imposing them as mandatory minimums constitutes a violation of both Polish and European competition law. To encourage cooperation, Oltens 1 participated in UOKiK's leniency program, which reduced the fines by 45%. The company will pay PLN 256,300, while the two managers will pay PLN 28,779 and PLN 37,001 respectively.
President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny, emphasised that competition should be free and that consumers must have the ability to compare prices and benefit from lower-cost options. The case underscores the importance of vigilance in online marketplaces and the consequences for companies attempting to control resale prices to the detriment of competition and consumer choice.
Source: www.biznes-meble.pl
