price marking

price marking

the law relating to the making of prices now originating from European Union directives. The law applies to goods for retail sale but not those supplied in the course of the provision of a service. Goods manufactured to order do not normally have to be price marked.

The selling price and, where appropriate, the unit price of products must be clearly displayed. The unit price is the price per kilogram, litre, etc of goods sold by quantity and is required for products sold loose from bulk (e.g. fruit and vegetables) and pre-packaged products which are required by Weights and Measures legislation to be marked with quantity or to be made up in a prescribed quantity - i.e. those where quantity is a relevant consideration in the decision to buy. Prices must be in sterling. Where a trader is willing to accept a foreign currency, in addition to the sterling price indication, further specific information must also be given about exchange rates, commission, etc. All prices must be inclusive of VAT and all other taxes. Postage, packing or delivery charges, maybe shown separately as long as they are unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible. Prices must be ‘unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible’ Consumers should not have to ask for assistance in order to be able to see a price. There is, however, no requirement to price mark items individually. Prices can be shown on the goods themselves, on a ticket or notice on or near to them, grouped together with other prices on a list or catalogue(s) in close proximity to them. There are special rules for ‘sales’. Window displays, which do not contain products that are removed and sold to consumers may be regarded as being purely promotional, in which case they will fall within the definition of'advertisement’. A unit price is required to be displayed in an advertisement only if a selling price is shown. Prices are always required to be shown (notwithstanding any other exemptions) when the advertisement is actually inviting consumers to conclude a distance contract which includes mail order advertisements in newspapers and goods sold direct from the internet or the media (see DISTANCE SELLING). Catalogues do not fall within the definition of advertisement and are required to show selling and unit prices as relevant. There are exemptions for cinema and TV ads, sales in small shops, sales by itinerant traders and sales out of vending machines.