Amazon has been hit with a hefty fine of 31 million zlotys ($7.8 million) by Poland’s consumer watchdog, UOKiK, for allegedly misleading customers regarding product availability and delivery dates, as announced on Wednesday.
According to UOKiK, numerous complaints were lodged by customers who failed to receive their orders on time.
“The average consumer has the right to assume that the purchase options, availability, and delivery times offered by traders are not misleading,” stated Tomasz Chrostny, the head of UOKiK.
Chrostny highlighted UOKiK’s concerns over practices such as displaying a countdown timer on the screen, indicating a specific period for order placement without ensuring timely delivery within that timeframe.
In response, Amazon’s press office declared their intention to contest the decision. “While the vast majority of our deliveries arrive on time, customers can contact us in the rare event that they experience a delay or order cancellation, and we will make it right,” stated Amazon in an email.
The company also emphasized its collaboration with UOKiK over the past year, proposing multiple voluntary amendments to enhance the customer experience on Amazon.pl. Despite these efforts, Amazon strongly opposes the assessment and penalty imposed by UOKiK, asserting strict adherence to legal standards across all operating countries.
