Japanet Takata Accused of Dual Pricing

October 19, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency on Thursday accused Japanet Takata Co. of employing dual pricing, ordering the major television shopping firm to take steps to prevent any recurrence of the inappropriate practice.

The practice affected one TV and four air conditioner models, whose prices were posted between May and July last year in violation of the law against misleading representations, the agency said.

According to the agency, Japanet Takata said in a direct mail distributed on July 24 last year that members would be given chances to buy the TVs at a special price of 109,800 yen, far below the usual price of 139,800 yen excluding tax. But sales of the TVs at the usual price had ended on June 15 that year.

The agency's guidelines stipulate that companies must not compare reduced prices with usual prices set for items whose sales at the ordinary prices ended two weeks or more previously.

For the air conditioners in question, Japanet Takata said in its member catalogue and on its website that it would offer a 20,000-yen discount from their usual prices. But the sales period of those air conditioners at the usual prices was less than two weeks in violation of the guidelines.

Japanet Takata's parent, Japanet Takata Holdings Co., said in a statement that it takes the order seriously and will make efforts to prevent a recurrence of similar misconduct. Jiji Press