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Price discrepancy between the cash register and the display: When is the entrepreneur fined?
Price discrepancy between the cash register and the display: When is the entrepreneur fined?
Sometimes, the price we see on the shelves in markets does not match the bill at the checkout. Other times, we end up paying more than what is shown on the menu at restaurants. As if that weren't enough, there are occasions when the weight of a product we buy by the kilogram shows a lower reading when we weigh it at home. All of these instances are violations of consumer rights and are considered illegal by law. One of the institutions overseeing this area is the State Agency for Anti-Monopoly and Consumer Market Supervision under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. So, what measures are taken against those who cause such negative occurrences?
How should a price tag be prepared?
Both in daily life and on social media, a frequently discussed issue is when the price at the checkout is higher than the price displayed on the shelf. This rightfully causes serious dissatisfaction among customers. Similar cases occur in cafes and restaurants as well, where food and drinks are charged higher than what is listed on the menu, or small amounts are added to the bill. In some cases, the actual weight of products sold by the kilogram does not match the reading on home scales.
In fact, the legislation requires entrepreneurs to have a well-prepared price tag on all products for sale, which must include the name, type, price, and filling date of the product. Sales should also be carried out based on the information provided on these tags. To ensure that customers leave the commercial establishment with no doubts, standardized measuring tools should be placed in visible areas to verify the accuracy of the product’s weight and size.
Deceiving consumers can lead to fines of up to 6,000 manat
According to the Administrative Offenses Code, deceiving consumers about the weight, size, or price of a product or service is described in two forms. If the deception is minor – meaning up to 5,000 manat – it results in a fine. For example, individuals can be fined between 350 to 500 manat, officials between 1,500 to 2,000 manat, and legal entities between 4,000 to 6,000 manat. If the deception exceeds 5,000 manat, criminal liability arises.
24 protocols have been written against entrepreneurs who deceive consumers
Deceptions regarding the size, weight, or price of a product are among the most common complaints. In 2024, 319 citizens filed complaints with the State Agency for Anti-Monopoly and Consumer Market Supervision under the President of Azerbaijan. The agency’s department head, Yusif Tapdıklı, stated that 24 protocols were drawn up against 13 business entities last year regarding consumer deception. The interesting part is that in 189 cases, consumer demands were met. According to Y. Tapdıklı, such complaints are also recorded in 2025. In the first two months of the year, although the number of citizen complaints was 40, as a result of investigations, four protocols about administrative offenses were drawn up against four business entities.
What is price discipline, and why is it important?
Without a doubt, products for sale should have their name, type, and price, as well as the date of preparation for the price tag. If the name, weight, and type of the product are indicated on the packaging, the price tag should only show the cost of a single unit of the product. Sometimes, commercial establishments do not place price tags on products, which directly violates price discipline. According to the "Rules of Trade, Public Catering, Household and Other Services in the Republic of Azerbaijan," special attention must be paid when packaging food products sold by weight. For example, the name, weight, price per kilogram, the total price of the weighed product, packaging date, expiration date, and the name or number of the person responsible for weighing must be clearly indicated. Additionally, when household appliances are displayed in trade halls, they must have a brief information sheet showing the product’s name, brand, model, article number, price, and technical specifications. Regarding menus in cafes and restaurants, the composition and prices of the food must be clearly shown, and if there are additional charges, it must be written in a visible place. If there are shows or entertainment for children in restaurants, and customers are required to pay for it, they must be informed in advance. Naturally, all goods and services must be priced in our national currency, the manat.
Requirements for discounted products
Misunderstandings often occur between the seller and the customer regarding discounted products. If a seller offers a product at a price lower than its value, the price tag must reflect this accordingly. The product's name, type, and weight, along with the discounted price, discount percentage, the dates of the discount, and the invalidation of the previous price, must be clearly indicated.
How are violators of price discipline penalized?
Violating price discipline results in a fine. According to the Administrative Offenses Code, entrepreneurs who fail to place price tags on products for sale or price tables or menus for services, or who do not prepare them correctly, must pay a fine ranging from 800 to 1,000 manat. Those who do not show the value of sold goods and services in manat are also fined. The sanctions for these individuals range from 1,100 to 1,650 manat.
Sanctions related to the violation of price discipline
In 2024, the Agency received 55 complaints related to price discipline violations, and 7 complaints in January-February of this year. The department head, Y. Tapdıklı, stated that in 22 cases, consumer demands were met. Additionally, protocols for administrative offenses were drawn up against two business entities that displayed their goods and products in foreign currencies and three entities that failed to prepare their menus correctly.
Entrepreneurs are continuously educated
To protect both consumers' rights and ensure price discipline, awareness-raising activities are also carried out in this area. Notifications and menu samples showing the requirements of the legislation have been prepared and distributed to 6,422 establishments. Furthermore, as part of public-private partnership, awareness-raising notifications have been placed in the electronic cabinets of 20,542 business entities engaged in public catering. Additionally, notifications and price tag samples reflecting the requirements of the legislation have been prepared and distributed to 4,471 establishments in the fields of fruit and vegetable sales, construction materials, and clothing.
Sometimes, the price we see on the shelves in markets does not match the bill at the checkout. Other times, we end up paying more than what is shown on the menu at restaurants. As if that weren't enough, there are occasions when the weight of a product we buy by the kilogram shows a lower reading when we weigh it at home. All of these instances are violations of consumer rights and are considered illegal by law. One of the institutions overseeing this area is the State Agency for Anti-Monopoly and Consumer Market Supervision under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. So, what measures are taken against those who cause such negative occurrences?
How should a price tag be prepared?
Both in daily life and on social media, a frequently discussed issue is when the price at the checkout is higher than the price displayed on the shelf. This rightfully causes serious dissatisfaction among customers. Similar cases occur in cafes and restaurants as well, where food and drinks are charged higher than what is listed on the menu, or small amounts are added to the bill. In some cases, the actual weight of products sold by the kilogram does not match the reading on home scales.
In fact, the legislation requires entrepreneurs to have a well-prepared price tag on all products for sale, which must include the name, type, price, and filling date of the product. Sales should also be carried out based on the information provided on these tags. To ensure that customers leave the commercial establishment with no doubts, standardized measuring tools should be placed in visible areas to verify the accuracy of the product’s weight and size.
Deceiving consumers can lead to fines of up to 6,000 manat
According to the Administrative Offenses Code, deceiving consumers about the weight, size, or price of a product or service is described in two forms. If the deception is minor – meaning up to 5,000 manat – it results in a fine. For example, individuals can be fined between 350 to 500 manat, officials between 1,500 to 2,000 manat, and legal entities between 4,000 to 6,000 manat. If the deception exceeds 5,000 manat, criminal liability arises.
24 protocols have been written against entrepreneurs who deceive consumers
Deceptions regarding the size, weight, or price of a product are among the most common complaints. In 2024, 319 citizens filed complaints with the State Agency for Anti-Monopoly and Consumer Market Supervision under the President of Azerbaijan. The agency’s department head, Yusif Tapdıklı, stated that 24 protocols were drawn up against 13 business entities last year regarding consumer deception. The interesting part is that in 189 cases, consumer demands were met. According to Y. Tapdıklı, such complaints are also recorded in 2025. In the first two months of the year, although the number of citizen complaints was 40, as a result of investigations, four protocols about administrative offenses were drawn up against four business entities.
What is price discipline, and why is it important?
Without a doubt, products for sale should have their name, type, and price, as well as the date of preparation for the price tag. If the name, weight, and type of the product are indicated on the packaging, the price tag should only show the cost of a single unit of the product. Sometimes, commercial establishments do not place price tags on products, which directly violates price discipline. According to the "Rules of Trade, Public Catering, Household and Other Services in the Republic of Azerbaijan," special attention must be paid when packaging food products sold by weight. For example, the name, weight, price per kilogram, the total price of the weighed product, packaging date, expiration date, and the name or number of the person responsible for weighing must be clearly indicated. Additionally, when household appliances are displayed in trade halls, they must have a brief information sheet showing the product’s name, brand, model, article number, price, and technical specifications. Regarding menus in cafes and restaurants, the composition and prices of the food must be clearly shown, and if there are additional charges, it must be written in a visible place. If there are shows or entertainment for children in restaurants, and customers are required to pay for it, they must be informed in advance. Naturally, all goods and services must be priced in our national currency, the manat.
Requirements for discounted products
Misunderstandings often occur between the seller and the customer regarding discounted products. If a seller offers a product at a price lower than its value, the price tag must reflect this accordingly. The product's name, type, and weight, along with the discounted price, discount percentage, the dates of the discount, and the invalidation of the previous price, must be clearly indicated.
How are violators of price discipline penalized?
Violating price discipline results in a fine. According to the Administrative Offenses Code, entrepreneurs who fail to place price tags on products for sale or price tables or menus for services, or who do not prepare them correctly, must pay a fine ranging from 800 to 1,000 manat. Those who do not show the value of sold goods and services in manat are also fined. The sanctions for these individuals range from 1,100 to 1,650 manat.
Sanctions related to the violation of price discipline
In 2024, the Agency received 55 complaints related to price discipline violations, and 7 complaints in January-February of this year. The department head, Y. Tapdıklı, stated that in 22 cases, consumer demands were met. Additionally, protocols for administrative offenses were drawn up against two business entities that displayed their goods and products in foreign currencies and three entities that failed to prepare their menus correctly.
Entrepreneurs are continuously educated
To protect both consumers' rights and ensure price discipline, awareness-raising activities are also carried out in this area. Notifications and menu samples showing the requirements of the legislation have been prepared and distributed to 6,422 establishments. Furthermore, as part of public-private partnership, awareness-raising notifications have been placed in the electronic cabinets of 20,542 business entities engaged in public catering. Additionally, notifications and price tag samples reflecting the requirements of the legislation have been prepared and distributed to 4,471 establishments in the fields of fruit and vegetable sales, construction materials, and clothing.