Late last year, Apple was fined $1.2 million by Italian regulators over warranty-related issues, with Apple being cited for not adequately disclosing standard two-year warranties required to be offered with new products sold in the country.
Following the ruling, Apple temporarily added disclosures to its Italian online store even as it was appealing the decision. Apple officially lost its appeal earlier this year, with the company being required to pay the previously-assessed fine.
Reuters now reports that Italian regulators remain concerned about Apple’s sales and marketing tactics and are considering additional fines and an eventual temporary ban on Apple’s ability to sell products in the country as further sanctions.
The AGCM said in its monthly bulletin that Apple was continuing to adopt unfair commercial practices in Italy and noted this could eventually lead to the closure of its Italian operations for up to 30 days.
The U.S. group has 30 days to respond.
The AGCM alleges that information provided by Apple about an extra guarantee scheme encourages customers to buy the service without clearly explaining that the company is obliged to offer a two-year free warranty, the source said.
Italy is not the only country where Apple is facing criticism over its warranty policies. Earlier this year, consumer groups in eleven European Union countries filed letters of complaint with their respective regulatory agencies asking them to take action against Apple’s misleading warranty sales tactics in light of the EU’s requirement for a standard two-year warranty. The company clarified the differences between EU protection and Apple’s warranty policies, but concerns about its disclosures apparently still remain.
NONSENSE. It’s not APPLE’S job to inform the Italian public about standard Italian law. It’s their government’s job. What are they doing, aside from the whole underage scandal thing?
It’s Apple (and whatever other company) job to inform in a right way and not to try to obscure the law term to sell extended guarantees.
Exactly. I’m a proud Italian-American. I love Italy and it’s culture and people. But their government and economic policies are so backwards.
It is an EU directive, not an Italian law, try again
Requiring 2 year warranties is stupid. It just raises prices for everyone. Let people choose if they want to pay for that extra 2 years of warranty instead of forcing them.
A 2 year warranty also helps weed out the planned obsolescence of some products.
Apple is getting in trouble because customers can’t read?
Apple is getting in trouble because its executives can’t read. The law.
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I think Apple should call their bluff and just pull out of Italy, including closing all of the iTunes, app and book stores.
I rather suspect it wouldn’t be long before there was a new set of regulators overseeing that section of the Italian government.
How is that better than following the law like any other company and actually making a benefit to the consumer?
Requiring 2 year warranties is stupid. It just raises prices for everyone. Let people choose if they want to pay for that extra 2 years of warranty instead of forcing them.
This is another discussion
Requiring 2 year warranties is stupid. It just raises prices for everyone. Let people choose if they want to pay for that extra 2 years of warranty instead of forcing them.
I agree. Ultimately, this is one of the reasons why some products cost [a lot] more in different countries.
Apple is getting in trouble because customers can’t read?
No, they’re in trouble because they were still pushing customers toward AppleCare when it was largely worthless.
Simple. Charge a 10% premium in Italy under the same scheme as currency adjustments, offer the 2 year warranty requested, and make very clear to the Italian public when and how to give feedback to the government about the unreasonable portions of law or regulation. Let the locals enjoy all costs and benefits.
Let them know pricing is connected to local rules including standards, fines and tarrifs. Give the example of Brazil tarrifs as an extreme example.
Rocketman
They already charged a 10% premium, even a little more. The baseline MBA increased from 949€ to 1069€ here with the last revision. Same with every other Macbook.
Apple should just close up shop and leave Italy. Just say “You know what you win Italy, we just won’t sell products in your country.”
Uhm, I think they are supposed to maximize profits, not act childish.
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