The consumer advocacy organization DECO PROteste has raised concerns that some retailers are advertising “supposed discounts” on products that were less expensive a month ago, as Black Friday approaches.
“During the Black Friday period, DECO PROteste visited four online stores and analyzed the prices of some promotional products. Despite some good purchasing opportunities, stores continue to offer products with supposed discounts that were cheaper less than a month ago,” the consumer advocacy organization’s website states.
DECO PROteste notes that “Black Friday inaugurates the holiday shopping season with discount campaigns starting increasingly early.”
“Although the campaigns promise unbeatable promotions in physical and online stores, a DECO PROteste investigation shows that not all advertised price reductions are good opportunities. On November 3 and 4, the consumer advocacy organization analyzed the start of Black Friday campaigns at several online stores. Similarly to previous years, it found numerous discounts that circumvent the promotion law,” states the consumer advocacy organization.
The stores analyzed
According to DECO PROteste, “in all the online stores analyzed by DECO PROteste in early November—FNAC, Darty, Auchan, and Euronics—products in campaigns were found that did not have a genuine discount and were indeed cheaper just days ago.”
The organization further alleges that “all stores were circumventing the law which dictates that to announce a promotion, the lowest price charged in the previous 30 consecutive days must be considered before the discount is applied.”
“Additionally, some stores analyzed in this study use communication strategies that compare their prices with supposed recommended retail prices from manufacturers, producers, or suppliers (RRP), leading consumers to believe they are being offered discounts that are not real,” according to the organization’s website.
You can see here some examples provided by DECO PROteste.
Black Friday takes place on November 28, and many customers use this time to anticipate Christmas shopping or make long-desired purchases at a more attractive price. Follow DECO PROteste’s tips.
Notícias ao Minuto | 09:42 – 04/11/2025
DECO PROteste requests increased oversight
In light of these advertisements, the organization “asks ASAE to increase oversight actions during this period and to impose fines on stores that continue to break the law,” ensuring that “the price reduction sales law is upheld.”
In recent years, DECO PROteste explains, “it has found violations once again, primarily due to non-compliance with the rules concerning the reference price for applying the discount, and has filed complaints.”
“However, the cases analyzed in the 2025 Black Friday campaigns reveal that online stores continue to disregard the law,” the report concludes.
Read also: Take note: Seven tips to avoid being deceived during Black Friday
