From October 1, Russian marketplaces will start operating under new rules of the platform economy. One of the most noticeable changes for customers concerns prices: platforms must disclose the price of a product without a discount, which only appears when using a card or another payment instrument from a specific bank.
In other words, it will be easier for the buyer to understand how much the product costs on its own and what benefit they receive specifically for the chosen payment method. Disputes around such discounts have been going on for a long time: banks criticized linking a lower price to cards of financial organizations associated with the marketplaces themselves, while platforms considered it a regular loyalty program.
The changes will affect not only prices. Marketplaces must verify information about sellers through state registers and the identification system, and product data must be cross-referenced with state information systems, including those for labeling, certificates, and declarations of conformity.
The new rules also strengthen control over goods for which permits are required for sale. Customers will also be given the opportunity to submit claims to sellers through the platform for refunds and compensation for damages for substandard goods.
Administrative liability is provided for violations of information requirements in product cards. For legal entities, the fine for certain violations can reach 100 thousand rubles.