The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has initiated a competition supervision procedure against Tízpróba Magyarország Kft., the operator of Decathlon in Hungary. The authority suspects that the company is engaging in several unfair commercial practices that could mislead consumers into making purchasing decisions they might not otherwise make.

Decathlon, a well-known retail chain for sports equipment, operates both physical stores and an online shop in Hungary. The GVH's investigation focuses on the company's potential failure to disclose significant differences between online and in-store prices, as well as falsely advertised savings on products that have been on sale for extended periods.

Starting from September 1, the company is suspected of not disclosing that the prices displayed online for certain products may differ from those available in stores. Additionally, from January 1, it is believed that Decathlon will falsely represent savings on products that have been on sale for a long time.

Furthermore, beginning January 1, 2024, the company may mislead consumers regarding product demand and available stock through messages like “Last Items” and “Purchased X times in the last 7 days.”

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

The GVH emphasizes that it continuously monitors the commercial practices of online retailers, particularly concerning deceptive marketing techniques, pricing practices, and promotional activities.