Poland: Issued UOKiK ruling following investigation into Amazon for misleading information on conclusion of sales contract

On 27 March 2024, the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) issued a PLN 31 million fine for misleading customers about the conclusion of the sales contract. UOKiK ruled it to be misleading that Amazon considers the actual shipping notice as the moment when the sales contract is formed and not the moment when the consumer places an order, which contradicts consumer expectations and leads to misunderstandings. Furthermore, consumers were misled by false information about product availability and delivery times. Amazon's presentation of this information, including countdown timers and available item numbers, pressures consumers into making uninformed purchase decisions. Lastly, Amazon offers a "Guaranteed Delivery" service, but consumers are not adequately informed about its terms before placing an order. Amazon is required to make the decision publicly available on its website and social media channels.