New rules for sellers of marketplaces: from October 1, control over discounts and protection from sudden sanctions

From October 1, sellers on marketplaces will receive new rights: they will be able to refuse automatic discounts at their own expense and set a minimum price for goods. This norm is enshrined in the law on the platform economy, said the head of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) Pavel Smelov.

According to Pavel Smelov, automatic discounts at the seller's expense are one of the most acute problems, and now their use is strictly regulated: a discount is possible only with the consent of the seller and with at least five working days' notice. The seller has the right to set a minimum price or completely refuse discounts at his own expense. At the same time, the refusal of discounts can not be used as a basis for sanctions, rating reduction or deterioration of the position of the product in the search results.

The new law aims to make the relationship between platforms and merchants more transparent and sustainable. Previously, the terms of work were often changed through offers – sometimes dozens of times a year, which seriously affected the business of sellers. Now the platforms are required to notify in advance of changes: about the worsening situation of the seller (for example, about the increase in commission or the revision of logistics conditions) - at least 45 days, about the rest - 15 days.

In addition, if the platform applies a sanction – for example, restricts access to a product card or personal account – it is obliged to send a reasoned notice to the seller. After elimination of the violation, the measure must be canceled within 48 hours. The seller also has a mandatory pre-trial appeal mechanism through his personal account: the operator must respond to the appeal no later than 15 days.