The President of the Polish competition authority (UOKiK) has levied a fine exceeding 100,000 PLN on Bak Drop, the company behind the websites bigotka.pl and arkadie.pl, for engaging in unfair market practices. The websites were presented as online clothing stores while primarily functioning as intermediaries in a dropshipping model.

Consumers reported numerous complaints, discovering only at the point of contract withdrawal that they were purchasing from an intermediary and would need to return items directly to manufacturers, often based in China, at their own expense. The lack of clear information regarding the intermediary nature of the websites misled consumers, who were not aware that they were not buying directly from a retailer.

UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny emphasized the importance of transparent information in e-commerce, stating that deliberately concealing the fact that a business does not operate an online store but merely provides intermediary services constitutes an unfair market practice. Accurate information about the true nature of the offer would enable consumers to make informed decisions.

Additionally, the websites employed deceptive marketing tactics, such as countdown timers for promotions that reset daily, creating a false sense of urgency. This practice, known as 'dark patterns,' manipulates consumer behavior and decision-making processes, pressuring them into hasty purchases.

As a result of these findings, UOKiK has ordered Bak Drop to cease these unfair practices immediately. The decision is not yet final, as there is an option to appeal to the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection.