Title: Action against Lidl and Penny by Consumer Groups

Title: Action against Lidl and Penny by Consumer Groups

More and more retailers, including discount stores Lidl and Penny, are introducing mobile apps to save customers money. However, consumer advocates like the Consumer Advice Center Baden-Württemberg have raised concerns about misleading price labels in these apps. Recently, they filed two injunction requests against Lidl and Penny, alleging a possible breach of the Price Indication Ordinance.

Head of the legal department, Gabriele Bernhardt, stated that prices advertised through the apps lack proper indication of the total or base price for regular customers shopping without the app. This, Bernhardt claimed, is a clear violation of the law.

When questioned about the lawsuits, Penny's spokesperson stated they had not received legal action and, therefore, could not comment on the specifics. Lidl, as a rule, does not comment on ongoing procedures.

Currently, the legal proceedings against Lidl and Penny are pending at the regional courts in Heilbronn and Cologne. Meanwhile, another case against discount store Netto is being prepared, and legal steps are being reviewed against the Rewe chain.

The issue at hand revolves around a Lidl advertisement in a sales prospectus that offered meat products at different prices based on app usage. The problematic aspect was the way the prices were displayed and the failure to indicate a basic price for non-app users.

Customer-retailer interactions take place through the apps, with customers enjoying benefits like additional items or discounts on reduced products in exchange for registering and sharing their data. While this data helps companies understand customer preferences and cater to individual tastes, it also raises concerns about data privacy and potential misuse.

In compliance with the Price Indication Ordinance, retailers must clearly indicate discounts and prices, making it essential to avoid misleading advertising practices. Failure to comply could lead to legal action and penalties, although specific cases against Lidl, Penny, et al., have yet to be mentioned in available sources.

Other retailers, like Netto and the Rewe chain, might also face legal challenges due to potential violations of the Price Indication Ordinance. Consumers should be mindful of the total or base prices when making purchases through mobile apps to avoid misunderstandings.

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