Buyer Beware – deceptive marketing tactics

Buyer beware. Always read the fine print. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. These sayings caution the unsuspecting, everyday consumer to act with care. On the flip side, the  action recently filed by the Competition Bureau against Leon’s and The Brick may serve as a cautionary tale for businesses.  The Competition Bureau, an independent law enforcement agency that investigates anti-competitive activities pursuant to legislation such as the Competition Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, is accusing these companies of deceptive marketing practices, stating that the additional fees that accompany their “buy now, pay later” promotions result in final prices much higher than the prices they are advertising.  The Competition Bureau  operates under the assumption that competition is beneficial to both businesses and consumers.  It considers deceptive marketing practices to be an example of anti-competitive behaviour. It will be interesting to see how this case unfolds.  In the meantime, more information can be found in this recent CBC post.