Determining selling prices of clothing and tourist equipment - a practice that has been used by Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno Handlowe Konimpex-Plus in Konin, along with its eleven partners. For participation in the agreement restricting competition, the President of UOKiK imposed a penalty on the undertakings of over PLN 94 thousand.

In accordance with the law, setting minimum prices or rigid prices between companies is prohibited and constitutes a serious breach of competition law. As a result of the agreements, product prices are increased to the obvious detriment of the consumer

In accordance with the law, setting minimum prices or rigid prices between companies is prohibited and constitutes a serious breach of competition law. As a result of the agreements, product prices are increased to the obvious detriment of the consumer. Therefore, each operator should make their pricing decisions based on its own economic calculation. UOKiK's latest decision shows that the companies often do not respect this obligation. The Authority questioned the practice of PPH Konimpex-Plus - a distributor and retailer of several brands of clothing, footwear, sports, tourism and climbing equipment (among others Feel Free Regatta Dare2Be, Chiruca, Lizard, Prymus) and the company's trading partners.

Illegal practice involved establishing between the companies the selling prices of selected products not smaller than those specified by Konimpex-Plus. As a result of the challenged practices, the company's distributors were deprived of their freedom in shaping the resale prices of its products and offering goods at prices more favorable than those imposed in the price lists. The effects of such actions also influenced consumers acquiring products at prices fixed between the parties to this agreement, which could develop at a higher level than if the seller freely agreed on their value.

Companies stopped applying the challenged practice. President of UOKiK imposed a penalty of total of PLN 94,757. The following business applied the illegal practices:

1. PPH Konimpex-Plus, penalty PLN 28,016
2. Skalnik in Wrocław, penalty PLN 9,716
3. Sklep Podróżnika in Warsaw, PLN penalty 14,178
4. Sklep Turystyczny – Przylądek in Toruń, it was decided not to impose the penalty due to too small revenue,
5. P.IN. A&B in Zielona Góra, it was decided not to impose the penalty due to too small revenue,
6. Sport-Tour. in Otwock, penalty PLN 2,022
7. Sporting in Leszno, penalty PLN 14,313
8. Digitronik in Piła, penalty PLN 15,899
9. Stockholm Group in Wrzosówka, penalty PLN 3,668
10. PPHU Irmak in Lublin, PLN penalty 3,517
11. Harcerz in Opole, penalty PLN 2,272
12. Hejszownia in Kłodzko, penalty PLN 1,156

The decision is not final. PPH Konimpex-Plus, and Skalnik Digitronik appealed against the decision of the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection. The Office advises that all undertakings who do not know whether their action restricts competition or they want to take advantage of the leniency program, may call 22 55 60 555. The lawyers of UOKiK will answer all questions, also those anonymous.

Additional information for media:
Branch of UOKiK in Katowice
tel.: 32 256 46 96
e-mail: katowice@uokik.gov.pl

Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314
faks 22 826 11 86
E-mail malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl