Sports Direct accused of ‘dodgy’ pricing practices
Sports Direct has been reported to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over “misleading” pricing practices by Which?.
Sports Direct has been reported to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over “misleading” pricing practices by Which?.
Which? said it found products being sold on Sports Direct’s website with recommended retail prices (RRPs) “that appear to be misleading”, as it couldn’t find the products sold at the RRP price anywhere else online.
The consumer group explained that these that it had identified “questionable and dodgy pricing tactics” could result in shoppers being misled “into thinking they are getting a better deal than they really are”.
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Sports Direct owner Frasers Group owns a portfolio of brands and retailers including USC, Slazenger, Karrimor and Everlast and sometimes appeared to be the only sellers of these particular brands, Which? claimed.
For example, a pair of Slazenger men’s tennis shoes was selling on SportsDirect.com for £32.99 – nearly half the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of £64.99.
Which? said it found the trainers for sale on eight other websites, “but the owner or seller was always part of the parent company”. Those sites sold them for £32.99 or £33. Only one retailer, Slazenger itself, sold them at the MSRP of £64.99.
A spokesperson said it believed the practices it had uncovered “may be breaking the law”.
Sports Direct has been contacted for comment.
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