Winter discounts start today – They will last until February 28

The regular winter discounts, which will last until Monday, February 28, start today, Monday, January 10th.

According to the law, the commercial stores can be opened optionally on the first Sunday of the discounts, January 16, with the opening hours of Sunday being set from 11.00 to 20.00.

Regarding the remuneration of the staff on Sunday, the legislation stipulates that the employers are obliged to pay the respective hourly wages for the provided work with a surcharge of 75%.

It is reminded that, when making the discounts, in addition to the mandatory indication of the old and the new reduced price of the goods and services, which are sold at a discount, the indication and the commercial communication of the discount percentage is allowed. If the reduced price concerns more than 60% of the total items sold, the demonstration of the provided discount rate is required, so it should be indicated in the store window and in any other commercial communication, while in case there are different discount rates per product categories, the range of the percentage provided should be indicated. In any case, the way in which the reduced price is calculated and projected to consumers must be absolutely accurate.

When conducting audits, businesses must be able to demonstrate that the old selling price on the plate corresponds to reality. Special attention is required for the discounted products, the indication of double prices, regardless of the use of the generalized discount rate. It is pointed out that according to article 21 of law 4177/2013, those who violate the provisions on discounts are fined an amount equal to 0.5% of the annual turnover and in any case not less than 5,000 euros. In case a fine is imposed for the second time for the same violation within a period of 5 years, the fine is increased to 3% of the annual turnover of the specific company.

Statements

A few days ago, the president of EVEP and PESA, Vassilis Korkidis, expressed his concern about how the discounts will go in terms of the physical presence of staff due to the great outbreak of the pandemic. As Mr. Korkidis said: “With the first concern of the observance of the health rules by employers, employees and customers in the safe areas of the physical stores, this year’s winter discounts start with expectations. All the commercial companies of Attica will have their goods for fifty days with big discounts, in order to liquidate their seasonal stocks, while offering very attractive prices to the choices and needs of consumers.

At the present juncture, due to the large spread of the Omicron mutation and the many cases of coronavirus in Attica, there is intense concern that the possibility of stripping the shops of absences due to the absence of employees and of course self-employed traders will be addressed. Hopefully the high discount rates and the adequacy of goods in the market will not be accompanied by a lack of physical presence of human resources, so that the stores can adequately serve the customers who need more than ever and approach the pre-pandemic turnover of 5 , 5 billion euros of the discount period “.

For his part, the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, Stavros Kafounis, said: “From Monday, companies will have their products at very attractive prices to take a breath of liquidity that they so desperately need. I urge the consumer public to visit from the first moment the commercial stores, which have proved the perfect observance of the health protocols and once again to carry out its purchases in a completely safe environment, choosing from a wide range of products in all categories of items “.

Finally, in a statement, the Hellenic Business and Retail Association (SELPE) states: “During the winter discounts, retailers will offer a wide variety of products at very low prices, with impeccable service and respect to the consumer public. We also inform the consumer It is common ground that our member companies have taken all necessary measures to ensure the strict observance of all health rules “.

SOURCE: AMPE