¿Simulation or discount? The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) caught some business who faked sales during the Good End 2024 to take advantage of customers.
The head of Profeco, César Iván Escalante Ruiz, presented three business cases that simulated offers in Buen Fin 2024, but in reality They sold the product at the same price or even more expensive.
Although he also acknowledged that there were businesses that yes they made offers and yes they fulfilled themso it also showed three cases of good practices.
Profeco caught thes businesses faking offers during Buen Fin 2024
The Profeco exhibited three businesses who played dirty with their clients with bad practices during Buen Fin 2024, which took place from Friday, November 15 to Monday, November 18, 2024.
The first case reported was that of a T-FAL Ultraforce brand blender sold in Delta Park Liverpoolin the Mexico Citywhich had price fluctuations since the third week of September, with a price ranging between 1,154 and 1,649 pesos.
During the Buen Fin, the final price of the blender was 1,649 pesos, that is, there was no discount.
A second blatant case was that of fresno Electric in GuadalajaraJalisco, where a Mave Silver 2-door refrigerator whent from 11 thousand 999 pesos to 6 thousand 999 pesosand during the Good End It was sold for 10,499 pesos.
The last case was that of a 18 kg Mabe brand washing machine in Walmart from Multiplaza Arboledas in TlalnepantlaState of Mexico, where the branch played with the price by fluctuating it between 8 thousand 990 and 9 thousand 990 pesos to sell it during the big sale at its highest price and without any type of discount.
Businesses that simulated offers during Buen Fin 2024 (Prophecy)
These businesses had “popover” during buen Fin 2024; yes they made good offers
not everything was bad during Buen Fin 2024,as Profeco identified that certain businesses did make good offers in the big November sale and to whom he gave a “check” for their good practices.
the first case was that of Sears in LindavistaGustavo A. Madero,from Mexico City,where an 86-inch LG screen was sold at a regular price of 39,999 pesos and that during Buen Fin It dropped to 19 thousand 995 pesos.
Another case was that of a Whirlpool brand stove with six burners, in a sears store at Galerías Mall in Hermosillo, Sonorawhose price It was reduced from 15,299 pesos to 8,414 pesos.
a 55-inch Samsung brand screen at Bodega Aurrerá Arboledas, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, It went from 9,999 pesos to 6,890 pesos.
– How can consumers report suspicious activities related to sales events like Good End?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and César Iván Escalante Ruiz, Head of Profeco
Time.news Editor: Welcome,César Iván Escalante Ruiz! Thank you for joining us today. As the head of the Federal Consumer Protection Agency, Profeco, your recent findings regarding the Good End 2024 sales have certainly caught our attention. Can you tell us more about what prompted this investigation?
César Iván Escalante Ruiz: Thank you for having me. The investigation was driven by complaints from consumers who felt deceived during the Good End sales event. We noticed a troubling pattern where some businesses were advertising meaningful discounts, but upon further inspection, we found they were either selling products at the same price or even at a higher price than before.
Time.news Editor: That sounds frustrating for consumers. Can you elaborate on the specific cases Profeco uncovered? What kind of deceptive practices did you witness?
César Iván Escalante Ruiz: Absolutely. We identified three notable cases of businesses that engaged in misleading practices. In one instance, a store marketed a product with a ample discount, claiming it was a limited-time offer. Upon inspection, we found that the price was essentially unchanged, and in some cases, higher than its regular pricing prior to the event. This blatant simulation of discounts is somthing we cannot tolerate.
Time.news Editor: those practices are indeed concerning. What steps is Profeco taking to combat this kind of sales manipulation?
César iván Escalante Ruiz: We are proactive in our approach. Profeco not only investigates reported cases but also conducts random inspections during major sales events like Good End. We educate consumers about their rights and provide them with resources to report suspicious activities. Additionally, we impose sanctions on businesses found guilty of deceptive advertising practices, which serves as a warning to others.
Time.news Editor: education is key, but what advice do you have for consumers to protect themselves during sales events like Good End?
César Iván Escalante Ruiz: Consumers should always do their research before making a purchase. Compare prices from different retailers and refer to official sites or apps that track historical pricing of products. If something looks too good to be true, it often is. And of course, if they encounter suspicious activity, they should report it directly to Profeco.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like Profeco is committed to protecting consumers. How do you see the future of sales events like Good End changing to ensure fair practices?
César Iván escalante Ruiz: I believe there will be a stronger emphasis on transparency. With more informed consumers and ongoing scrutiny from agencies like Profeco, businesses will be encouraged to adopt ethical marketing practices. we envision a market where trust between consumers and companies flourishes, and where genuine deals are the norm.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, César, for your insights and for the vital work Profeco is doing to protect consumers.We hope to see continued progress in ensuring fair and honest sales practices in the future.
César Iván Escalante Ruiz: Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure to discuss these important issues.