The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has initiated a competition supervision procedure against Douglas Perfumeries, suspecting that the company's promotional practices and claims of exclusivity may mislead consumers.

According to the GVH, Douglas's advertising of discounts, such as 'Up to ...%', may create the impression that consumers can receive discounts of 30-70%, despite the likelihood that the products were not available at the maximum discount.

Additionally, the GVH noted systemic issues in Douglas's promotional practices, where the number of products advertised as discounted is significantly higher compared to non-discounted products, and the duration of promotional periods exceeds that of non-promotional periods. These practices could hinder informed decision-making by consumers.

The GVH also observed that the 'Douglas Exclusive' and 'Douglas Online Exclusive' labels on the company's mobile app and website may mislead consumers into believing that certain products are only available at Douglas, which is not true for a significant portion of the products.

The initiation of the competition supervision procedure does not imply that the company has committed a legal violation. The procedure aims to clarify the facts and prove the alleged infringement. The investigation is set to last three months, with the possibility of two extensions of up to two months each if justified.

As the holiday shopping season approaches, the GVH warns consumers to be cautious of impulse purchases and to verify the reliability of online stores, review terms and conditions, and consider alternative offers.