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Apple features 'communication to protect consumers' in Italy after court ruling

Apple has complied with a court order in Italy and begun informing customers at its online store about a legally mandated two-year warranty.

Now featured at the top of the main page of Apple's online store is a "communication to protect consumers" that links to a PDF explaining the court's ruling. The change to Apple's online store in Italy was first noted by setteBIT and detailed by The Register.

Apple posted the notice in compliance with a court ruling from late December, after an Italian court fined Apple Sales International, Apple Italia Srl and Apple Retail Italia 900,000 euros, or $1.2 million U.S., for "not providing clear information to customers on product assistance." THe Italian Antitrust Authority undertook the investigation after it received complaints of "unfair commercial practices" related to warranties.

Apple posted the notice in its online store to inform customers that local laws require companies to protect buyers with a free two-year warranty. Despite this, the court found that Apple continued to push its own paid two-year AppleCare warranty to consumers.

While Apple has begun to inform customers of the ruling, there's no indication that the company has agreed to pay the fines levied by the Italian Antitrust Authority. Apple had previously appealed the court's decision.

Apple was fined 400,000 euros for not providing adequate information to customers about the length of product guarantees, and another 500,000 euros because the company did not give customers enough information about its AppleCare extended warranty.

The iPhone maker's retail operations expanded into Italy in late 2006 with a store in Ponte di Nona's RomaEst shopping plaza, located in a rural area about 15 kilometers from Roma. Apple now has a total of 9 retail stores in Italy, with the remaining eight stores located in Bergamo, Oriocenter; Bologna, via Rizzoli; Caserta, Campina; Catania, Centro Sicilia; Firenze, I Gigli; Milano, Carosello; Milano, Fiordaliso; and Torino, Ge Gru.



8 Comments

jnjnjn 18 Years · 588 comments

European law requires a two year warranty, so it's required in all European countries.
This law is about 10 years old and still Apple doesn't comply to it.
It is also almost certain that Apple has to pay the fines in Italy.

J.

charlituna 17 Years · 7217 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by jnjnjn

European law requires a two year warranty, so it's required in all European countries.
This law is about 10 years old and still Apple doesn't comply to it.

Who says that Apple doesn't comply. No one claimed that they brought in a 12-24 month product without Apple Care and Apple refused to service it.

The claim was that Apple didn't bother to point out that the warranty is two years when they were pitching Apple Care, thus says the claim, people were buying a service they didn't need. Disregarding that Apple Care could be providing things like phone support that aren't legally required, or even just that 3rd year of coverage on computers. That there was more to Apple Care than just the parts and labor could be why the fine was rather scant (only like $5 Million which Apple makes just by opening their doors on any given day)

jnjnjn 18 Years · 588 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna

Who says that Apple doesn't comply. No one claimed that they brought in a 12-24 month product without Apple Care and Apple refused to service it.

The claim was that Apple didn't bother to point out that the warranty is two years when they were pitching Apple Care, thus says the claim, people were buying a service they didn't need. Disregarding that Apple Care could be providing things like phone support that aren't legally required, or even just that 3rd year of coverage on computers. That there was more to Apple Care than just the parts and labor could be why the fine was rather scant (only like $5 Million which Apple makes just by opening their doors on any given day)

I can read as well as you do.
Apple doesn't comply in that they state clearly that all products have a one year warranty.
You will see it if you go the (Dutch) Apple store (*).
I never said anything about Apples service, so don't put words in my mouth.

J.

(*)MacBook Air wordt geleverd met 90 dagen gratis telefonische ondersteuning en een jaar beperkte garantie. Wanneer je het AppleCare Protection Plan koopt, worden de service en ondersteuning uitgebreid tot drie jaar vanaf de datum waarop je de computer hebt gekocht. Alleen met het AppleCare Protection Plan kun je gebruik maken van telefonische ondersteuning door technische experts van Apple en ben je ervan verzekerd dat reparaties worden uitgevoerd door gediplomeerde Apple technici, die alleen originele Apple onderdelen gebruiken."

spacekid 14 Years · 184 comments

This would be one reason that Apple products would cost more in Europe. From a business perspective, I would think that the additional costs for failures between the normal 1 year warranty and this 2 year European warranty would need to be factored in for European sales.

There have been complaints previously of the products costing more in Europe and this could be why.

jnjnjn 18 Years · 588 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by spacekid

This would be one reason that Apple products would cost more in Europe. From a business perspective, I would think that the additional costs for failures between the normal 1 year warranty and this 2 year European warranty would need to be factored in for European sales.

There have been complaints previously of the products costing more in Europe and this could be why.

The difference in price has to do with taxes. In the Netherlands for example btw is 19%, so all products are 19% as expensive. If you look at the products in the Apple store you will see that some poducts cost even less than the U.S counterparts.

J.