AGCM

The Authority scrutinised the actions of Emme Group S.p.A., active in selling mattresses and bed bases under the Marion brand through telesales and home visits.

The Italian Competition Authority, following consumer reports, opened an investigation against Emme Group S.p.A. for the possible unfairness and aggressiveness of some marketing practices in the promotion of Marion brand mattresses and bed bases. The company operates through telesales, online sales and home visits.

Specifically, the company may have spread information that seems to be incomplete and misleading about the qualities of the mattresses, the prices smoothly labelled as 'reduced' and the scope of these 'reductions', the timing of product delivery, the duration of the promotions, and the barriers to the sale of the advertised mattress model during teleshopping at the specified price.

During the home visit, the salesmen seem to be exerting various kinds of pressure to buy other mattress models at much higher prices than those advertised in the infomercials. They would also imply that the mattress being sold would have characteristics and quality that did not correspond to those advertised, or that its delivery would be significantly delayed.

 Yesterday, officials from the Authority, assisted by the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza), conducted inspections at several Emme Group S.p.A. locations.

Rome, 30 October 2024