UFC-Que Choisir filed a complaint against the reconditioning giant on Wednesday June 15, 2022. In addition to false promotions and hidden costs, the association also criticizes its policy of advertising trackers.
“UFC-Que Choisir wants the ‘refurbished unicorn’ to continue to add sparkle to consumers’ lives, without its communication being just window dressing.” Alain Bazot, president of UFC-Que Choisir, obviously worked on his punchlines to announce the filing of a complaint, this Wednesday, June 15, against the giant of the reconditioning of electrical and electronic devices Back Market before the Court of Justice of Paris . The association accuses the site of misleading commercial practices.
The UFC judges that the communication of Back Market, a French company present in 13 countries on three continents and valued at more than 5 billion dollars, conceals “many breaches of consumer law”. It provides concrete examples, such as the promotions offered by the site, where the price of the refurbished product is compared to that of the new one, even though the latter is not even sold there. A refurbished smartphone will thus be displayed at -30% compared to its new price, although it is not a promotion.
The consumer defense association also criticizes Back Market Back for not including in the presentation of the products the service charges systematically invoiced to customers. Fees that “can go up to €5.99 depending on the amount of the order and [qui] only appear at the payment stage”necessarily increasing the note.
First complaint in Europe against Back Market
Two other details annoy the UFC-Que Choisir. The first concerns the 12-month contractual guarantee advanced by Back Market, suggesting a considerable advantage while this guarantee, which also lasts 24 months, is imposed by law. Finally, the site would not comply with the regulations since tracking cookies would be deposited, even if the Internet user refused them.
“This is why the association is filing a complaint against Back Market for misleading commercial practicesconcludes the association. This is the first complaint in Europe by a consumer association against the refurbished giant, even if its practices have also been criticized by others, such as the German association VZBV. Back Market must put an end to its practices and provide consumers with fair and exhaustive information.”