01.09.2026 14:21
The Ministry of Trade has intensified inspections on businesses that avoid selling products displayed in storefronts, on shelves, or online, citing reasons such as "out of stock," "sold out," or "display item." Firms that avoid sales without a legitimate justification will be fined 10 percent of the product's price, with a minimum penalty of 3,973 lira. The furniture, electronics, automotive, apparel, and real estate sectors will be placed under scrutiny.
The Ministry of Trade has tightened its inspections regarding the avoidance of selling products that consumers see in shop windows, on shelves, on e-commerce sites, or on digital platforms without a legitimate justification.
According to the news from Kaan Zenginli of Türkiye Gazetesi, administrative sanctions will be applied against the method known publicly as "baiting and switching," which involves luring consumers to a store or listing with an affordably priced product and then directing them to a more expensive one.
Within the scope of Article 6 of Law No. 6502 on the Protection of Consumers, businesses that do not comply with the rules will be subject to an administrative fine of 10 percent of the product's sales price including taxes, starting from 2026. The penalty amount cannot be less than 3,973 liras per violation.
SAYING "SOLD," "OUT OF STOCK," OR "DISPLAY ITEM" WILL NOT SUFFICE
Particularly in the furniture, electronics, automotive, ready-to-wear, and real estate sectors, where price competition is intense, certain justifications frequently encountered by consumers have also been scrutinized.
Businesses' statements such as "It was just sold," "It's only a display item," "Our stock is depleted," or "The system wasn't updated" will not alone be accepted as legitimate justification for avoiding a sale.
To avoid selling a product, it will be necessary for the product to clearly bear the label "not for sale," "sample," or "sold," or for it to be documented that the product is clearly damaged.
Otherwise, the product offered for sale in the window, on the shelf, or online will have to be sold to the consumer at the stated price.
STOCK QUANTITY WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN CAMPAIGNS
For products with campaigns and limited stock, businesses will also be required to inform consumers in advance. The conditions under which the campaign is valid and the amount of stock available will be announced transparently.
In this way, it is aimed to prevent consumers from being lured to a store or website with a low-priced product and then directed to another, higher-priced product.
THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE ACCORDING TO THE PRODUCT'S PRICE
The sanction to be applied to businesses that avoid a sale will be determined according to the value of the product.
For example, although a 10 percent penalty for a 2,000 lira product corresponds to 200 liras, due to the determined lower limit, a fine of 3,973 liras will be imposed on the business.
In the event of avoiding the sale of a 40,000 lira television, the penalty will reach 4,000 liras, and for a 150,000 lira furniture set, it will reach 15,000 liras.
A SEPARATE PENALTY FOR EACH VIOLATION
If the practice of avoiding a sale is repeated against more than one consumer, penalties may be applied separately for each transaction.
Additional sanctions may also be brought against businesses acting contrary to the legislation, within the scope of the provisions on deceptive commercial practices and misleading advertising, depending on the nature of the incident.
CONSUMERS ARE ASKED TO DOCUMENT THE SITUATION
Consumer organizations state that sanctions against the "luring customers to the store and directing them to a more expensive product" method, which has been encountered for many years, will contribute to reducing grievances.
Experts draw attention to the importance of documenting the situation if the price indicated in the window or on the shelf differs from the price at the cash register, or if the displayed product is not given to the consumer.
Consumers can file complaints with the Ministry of Trade through e-Government using documents such as shelf labels, listing images, or screenshots. In consumer disputes, Consumer Arbitration Committees will continue to serve as the authorized authority.
5 SECTORS UNDER SCRUTINY
It is stated that cases of avoiding sales and directing consumers to more expensive products occur especially in the furniture, electronics, automotive, ready-to-wear, and real estate sectors, where competition is intense.
THE "ONLY DISPLAY" EXCUSE IN FURNITURE
In furniture stores, directing consumers to more expensive models by offering justifications such as "only for display" or "production has ended" for products displayed at a discount will be subject to examination.
Avoiding the sale of display products that do not clearly bear the label "not for sale" may lead to sanctions.
"OUT OF STOCK" INSPECTION IN ELECTRONICS
The justification used in campaigns organized for electronic products such as phones, televisions, and white goods, saying "stock ran out in the first minute," will also not be sufficient on its own.
The stock limit and campaign conditions must be clearly and transparently communicated to the consumer in advance.
CHEAP VEHICLE LISTINGS IN AUTOMOTIVE UNDER SCRUTINY
In the automotive sector, telling customers who come to the dealership that the advertised affordably priced entry-level version vehicles have been "sold" and recommending higher-equipped and more expensive vehicles will also fall within the scope of inspection.
Such practices may be evaluated within the scope of deceptive commercial practices, depending on their conditions.
LABEL PRICE IS VALID IN CLOTHING
In the ready-to-wear sector, failing to provide discounted products displayed in the window or inside the store to the consumer at the cash register with justifications like "it was the last item, it was sold" will also be inspected.
If there is a difference between the label and the cash register price, the price favorable to the consumer will remain valid.
TRACKING "BAIT LISTINGS" IN REAL ESTATE
In the real estate sector, luring consumers with listings published on internet platforms below the market price and, when contacted, saying "the apartment is sold" or "rented" and recommending more expensive other properties will be under scrutiny.
Inspections on listings and businesses will continue with the aim of preventing consumers from being misled through this method.