{"id":34859,"date":"2026-07-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpw.law\/?p=34859"},"modified":"2026-07-29T14:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T12:40:13","slug":"bargain-price-turns-into-a-pitfall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpw.law\/en\/bargain-price-turns-into-a-pitfall\/","title":{"rendered":"Bargain price turns into a pitfall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull v4-pattern-hero v4-pattern-hero--post is-style-background-blend is-style-arrow has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light v4-pattern-hero__cover\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);min-height:75vh;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eebe19\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-34857 size-large not-transparent\" alt=\"Streichpreis wird zur Stolperfalle, Preisangaben, Wettbewerbsrecht, Rechtsanwalt\" src=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streichpreis-wird-zur-Stolperfalle-1024x585.jpg\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eebe19; object-position:50% 85%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 85%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streichpreis-wird-zur-Stolperfalle-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streichpreis-wird-zur-Stolperfalle-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streichpreis-wird-zur-Stolperfalle-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streichpreis-wird-zur-Stolperfalle-1536x878.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streichpreis-wird-zur-Stolperfalle-2048x1170.jpg 2048w\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-base-background-color has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:5em\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-97ba1214 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a6a2a725 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n<h1 id=\"multirow-headline-block_88d27e94fdda10ad3bbd20f923cbeca2\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\n\n<p class=\"has-gigantic-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Bargain price <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:15%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">becomes a <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-contrast-color has-text-color has-link-color has-gigantic-font-size wp-elements-37f1833153799dcb65f7bd5d7a72e1bb wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">pitfall.<\/p>\n\n<\/div> \r\n<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-small-font-size is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-878d3859 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:italic;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\"><div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\" class=\"wp-block-post-date has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-29T09:00:00+02:00\">29. July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">of<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:600\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\">Clemens Pfitzer<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3b99a472 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Is an online retailer allowed to advertise a suggested retail price as a crossed-out price? When must the lowest price over the past 30 days be displayed, even if there hasn&#8217;t actually been a price reduction? <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-worum-geht-s\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s it about?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An online retailer of plumbing supplies and home furnishings had displayed a strikethrough price of \u20ac952.00 next to the current price of \u20ac427.58 on its product page for a rivea trademark bathroom mirror. The display was accompanied by the text \u201cSAVE 55% NOW\u201d and \u201cSavings of \u20ac524.42.\u201d An asterisk after the crossed-out price referred to a footnote at the bottom of the page, which identified the crossed-out price as the manufacturer\u2019s suggested retail price. Two weeks earlier, on July 1, 2025, the same retailer had in fact charged a lower price for the same mirror than the one advertised on July 15, 2025.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A qualified trade association, as defined by the Unfair Competition Act, took action against the retailer for this reason.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dispute centered on two separate allegations. First, the advertisement did not make it sufficiently clear that the crossed-out price was not a price previously charged by the retailer itself, but merely the manufacturer\u2019s suggested retail price. Second, the retailer failed to state the price it actually charged on July 1, 2025, as the reference price, as required by <a href=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/thema\/preisangaben\/\" type=\"thema\" id=\"4865\">price disclosure laws<\/a> when announcing price reductions.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The retailer defended himself by arguing that his advertisement contained a permissible reference to a suggested retail price, a claim that was also confirmed by a market research report he had commissioned. Since he had not advertised a price reduction, he was not required to specify a 30-day best price. <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-entscheidung-des-lg-dussledorf\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Decision of the D\u00fcsseldorf Regional Court  <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The D\u00fcsseldorf Regional Court ruled that  <a href=\"https:\/\/nrwe.justiz.nrw.de\/lgs\/duesseldorf\/lg_duesseldorf\/j2026\/38_O_219_25_Urteil_20260717.html\">Judgment of July 17, 2026 \u2013 Case No. 38 O 219\/25 <\/a>  in favor of the trade association and ruled against the retailer accordingly.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Chamber\u2019s view, a strikethrough price would typically and immediately\u2014without further thought\u2014lead consumers to believe that the retailer had reduced its own price. The court described the strikethrough price as the method that has been used for decades to announce a price reduction by the retailer itself and is familiar to all consumers. In the Chamber\u2019s view, supplementary information such as \u201cSAVE 55% IMMEDIATELY\u201d and the stated savings amount would further reinforce this impression, because the concept of a savings implies that the customer would otherwise have had to pay the higher price. This is precisely not the case with a mere manufacturer\u2019s suggested retail price, as it does not indicate an actual price charged but only a theoretical market price.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Chamber acknowledged that it is possible for a strikethrough price to be used in forms of advertising other than the announcement of a price reduction\u2014for example, in a simple comparison with the manufacturer\u2019s suggested retail price. However, the consumer must be able to recognize this with sufficient clarity. A mere asterisk with a footnote explanation stating \u201cManufacturer\u2019s suggested retail price\u201d is not sufficient for this purpose. The eye-catching statements are readily understandable on their own, so consumers have no reason to look for and read an explanatory footnote.   <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group v4-pattern-general-quote-box has-kpw-yellow-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accordingly, it does not matter whether the business owner actually offered a price reduction. It is sufficient if, in the perception of the average consumer, the business owner gives the impression of having done so. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3 id=\"h-verstoss-gegen-die-pflicht-zur-angabe-des-30-tage-referenzpreises\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Violation of the requirement to disclose the 30-day reference price<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because, according to the court\u2019s assessment as described above, the advertisement would be perceived as an announcement of a price reduction, the retailer was required to state the lowest price charged within the 30 days prior to July 15, 2025. This obligation arises from the Price Indication Regulation, which implements a corresponding EU directive. According to the court\u2019s findings, on July 1, 2025, the retailer had charged a lower price for the same mirror than the amount now presented as the crossed-out price. The retailer should have listed this lower price as the reference price, but failed to do so.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regarding the scope of this obligation, the Chamber clarified that, in this case as well, the sole determining factor is the perception of the average consumer, not the actual economic circumstances. A retailer cannot therefore evade the obligation to state the reference price by claiming that, objectively speaking, it has not reduced the price if its advertising nevertheless gives the consumer the opposite impression. <\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"h-kein-sachverstandigengutachten-zur-verkehrsauffassung\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">No expert opinion on the prevailing view<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The court considered the opinion based on public opinion polling submitted by the retailer to be irrelevant. The chamber declined to commission its own expert opinion and instead relied on its own expertise. In its view, determining the prevailing market perception is not a finding of fact, but rather an evaluative application of empirical knowledge, to which courts are generally not bound by motions for evidence.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, the court considered the content of the expert report to be of little significance. It did not openly elicit the respondents\u2019 spontaneous reactions but, through predetermined response options, deliberately directed their attention to the asterisk note. Despite these methodological weaknesses, the expert report actually tended to confirm rather than refute the association\u2019s position. Only 87 percent of respondents recognized the asterisk as a reference to an explanation at all, only 84 percent noticed it at all, and just under 13 percent immediately understood the crossed-out price as the retailer\u2019s previous price.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical Implications for Online Retailers<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several lessons can be drawn from the ruling regarding pricing in online retail. First, a mere asterisk note at the bottom of the page is generally not sufficient to transform a strikethrough price\u2014which is visually presented as a price reduction\u2014into a mere comparison with the MSRP. Second, with regard to the obligation to disclose the 30-day lowest price, it is irrelevant whether the retailer subjectively believed it was not advertising a price reduction. The only factor that matters is the impression created in the consumer\u2019s mind.     <\/p>\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n            <div id=\"content-cloner-block_2befaaed0619ac1fa2f3be4983a2b506\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-content-cloner alignfull\">\r\n            \n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2a3144cbdbe9d15a5377013b5fd35bf8\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-secondary-background-color has-background-dim-60 has-background-dim\"><\/span><video class=\"wp-block-cover__video-background intrinsic-ignore\" autoplay muted loop playsinline src=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/loop-1.mp4\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"><\/video><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8e83a95e wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a6a2a725 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:10%\">Received a cease and desist letter?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n<div id=\"multirow-headline-block_b0b16136404d454cb5aac9342e5d033b\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline alignwide\">\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\n\n<p class=\"has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">How to react<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-x-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:8%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">You are best advised to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">cease and desist letter!<\/p>\n\n<\/div> \r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">A cease and desist letter, e.g. for infringement of competition law, industrial property rights or copyright, should always be taken seriously, as it can have considerable legal and financial consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Timely and professional advice is crucial in order to minimize risks and develop the right strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);flex-basis:60%\">\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check cease and desist letter:<\/strong> Have the cease and desist letter legally checked. Not every cease and desist letter is justified, formally correct and abusive cease and desist letters are unlawful. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Observe the deadline<\/strong>: Be sure to respond within the set deadline to avoid further legal action such as an injunction or a lawsuit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check the cease-and-desist declaration<\/strong>: Do not sign a pre-formulated cease-and-desist declaration without legal advice. It could be too far-reaching and lead to considerable and lasting disadvantages. Once a cease-and-desist declaration has been signed, it is almost impossible to get rid of it and can result in considerable follow-up costs in the form of high contractual penalties.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategy<\/strong>: Regardless of whether the cease and desist letter is justified or not, you should consider the right strategy for responding to the cease and desist letter with professional support. Many aspects play a role here. For example, there may be formal errors or the submission of a cease-and-desist declaration may involve incalculable risks.  <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n    \r\n\n<h2 id=\"h-fazit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns v4-pattern-text-copy-half-col is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Case law regarding advertising with strikethrough prices remains inconsistent. The court itself acknowledges that the question of whether an addition such as \u201cMSRP\u201d alone, alongside the strikethrough price, could be sufficient for clarification is assessed differently in case law. To be on the safe side, companies should follow the approach taken by the Regional Court of D\u00fcsseldorf if they wish to <a href=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/thema\/abmahnung\/\" type=\"thema\" id=\"182\">avoid receiving cease and desist letters <\/a>.    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80)\">\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide v4-pattern-cta-box has-secondary-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0c8cea62 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-71c143ff wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-fb77afb0 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0;flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-right is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1931a79c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n<div id=\"multirow-headline-block_b0b16136404d454cb5aac9342e5d033b\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline alignwide\">\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">We are happy to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-x-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:8%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">advise you about<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">Competition law!<\/p>\n\n<\/div> \r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9da75b5c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-visual4-contact-modal__button\">\r\n            \r\n        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\r\n            \r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-button v4-contact-modal-button is-style-fill\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" data-form-id=\"8\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-contrast-color has-base-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\">Contact form<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        \r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-style-mobile-only is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a768b15a wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-arrow is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-base-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:4971141019030\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Call now!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column--image is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column__image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/themes\/kpw-law\/assets\/samples\/person-cropped.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-23155\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The D\u00fcsseldorf Regional Court has ruled that promotional prices listed in advertising without a 30-day reference price are misleading and impermissible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4904],"tags":[5074,6527,5071,5513,5610,6426],"thema":[5860],"rechtsgebiet":[4987,5013],"produkt":[],"class_list":["post-34859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-pangv-en","tag-price-comparison","tag-price-quotation","tag-rrp","tag-strike-price","tag-werbung","thema-price-indication-ordinance-pangv","rechtsgebiet-competition-law","rechtsgebiet-e-commerce-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.9 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>When a Bargain Turns Into a Pitfall<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The D\u00fcsseldorf Regional Court has ruled that promotional 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