The 2022 summer sales have just started this Wednesday, July 22. As always, merchants are multiplying the reductions. But a new law has changed the rules to avoid fake promotions that mislead consumers.
It’s go again ! The 2022 summer sales have just started this Wednesday July 22 for four weeks, i.e. until July 19 inclusive in most French departments and territories. As always, merchants multiply reductions to attract customers, liquidate their stocks and increase their turnover. For the consumer, it is an opportunity to take advantage of promotions to buy all kinds of products at a lower cost. Provided, however, that you compare the prices carefully – between the shops and with the prices displayed before the operation – and not to hang around, because the real bargains disappear very quickly from the stalls. Some online merchants, such as Cdiscount, do not hesitate to highlight products on their site at shattered prices even though they are only available in very limited quantities.
Summer sales 2022: stricter rules to protect consumers
Of course, all the big brands have sales, sometimes associating “good deals”, “flash sales” and other promotions that can sow confusion. Merchant sites are actively participating in this widespread clearance sale, practicing on practically all their departments, particularly in high-tech. We should also point out that the sales also sometimes apply to refurbished products, which allows you to make great savings, as we have seen.
However, the 2022 summer sales take place in a very specific context. First, they come after two special years, marked by the Covid pandemic, which has led to changes in behavior with confinements and health measures. Then, between the promotions and special operations which are now multiplying throughout the year, the sales are much less attractive than in the past. Especially since many consumers are wondering about the incentives for overconsumption and impulse buying, by favoring eco-responsible acts and durable goods. In addition, with concerns about the international situation, inflation galloping since the beginning of 2022 and purchasing power which is decreasing as a result, the atmosphere is not one of buying fever… Not to mention that the shortage of components electronics which has persisted since 2020 has seriously limited the “natural” erosion of the prices of high-tech products, which tend to stagnate when they are not increasing.
However, two factors can give color to the 2022 summer sales. On the one hand, generalized inflation can precisely make people want to equip themselves with a possible price increase in the coming months. On the other hand, since May 28, 2022, new regulations govern merchant practices, in particular for displayed prices, which must no longer refer to inflated and fictitious crossed out prices (see our article). As consumer associations such as UFC-Que Choisir have already denounced on several occasions, some merchants did not hesitate to raise their prices a few days or weeks before the sales by aligning them with a “list price” or a “recommended price” which is never practiced, so as to display an artificially greater discount. This misleading practice is now strictly prohibited, and that’s good!
Remember that the sales can only apply to products already on sale before the operation, and not to items that have arrived especially for the occasion. In addition, and contrary to popular belief, devices on sale benefit from the same guarantees as the others. As such, they can be repaired in the event of a breakdown but also be returned during the withdrawal period if they were purchased remotely, in particular on online sales sites (see our practical sheet on the right of withdrawal). Details that count on high-tech products…
Of course, all the major specialists in the online sale of high-tech products take part in the sales. Here are links to directly access the presentation pages of their promotions.
We have selected a few offers that seem really interesting to us with regard to the characteristics and prices usually practiced. This selection will evolve over the days and promotions: do not hesitate to come back and consult it regularly to discover new markdowns. And don’t delay in making a decision if a product interests you, because stocks are limited and the real bargains disappear very quickly!