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Packages: married, promotion or sale opportunism?

13/02/2014

This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.






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With the proximity of some holidays like Easter and Carnival , the demand for accommodation reveals a practice widely used by most hotel chains and hotels in Brazil , the famous package.

However , when establishments fail to offer another modality and enforce consumer package as one form of hosting , such practice shall be configured as bundling , which , according to Article 39 of the Code of Consumer Protection ( CDC ) , is illegal .

According to the CDC, is characterized bundling or tying the sale of goods or services to buy other items or by imposing minimum quantity of product to be purchased .

The technical advisor of Procon- SP , Andrea Arantes , explains that the packets are a normal and accepted practice by consumers , but can not be the only offer . " Hotels can make their package deals , but must also offer the usual form of hosting consumer . What we realized is that packets are imposed as the only way of hosting and it hurts the Code of Consumer Protection , "says Andrea .

Daniel Mendes Santana , IDEC attorney , advises the consumer to argue with the establishment and even with a reservation must file a complaint . " Even with trading the customer must file a complaint in consumer protection agencies . Only then can we monitor this practice , " he says.

To file a complaint with Procon just the consumer enters the agency's website and fill out the form , or by calling 151 . The consumer should have on hand the widest possible range of information such as name and address of the establishment , exchanged emails and calls in case of the protocol number of the call and the name of the attendant.

Seasonality or opportunism ?

The issue of Married to the hospitality industry sales , according to Bruno Omori , president of the Brazilian Association of the State of São Paulo ( ABIH - SP ) Hotel Industry , should be reconsidered by the Code of Consumer Protection . To Omori , packages are a practical world market , which generates revenue for the entire business chain and set it as abuse represses an industry that has its limitations .

" The tourism market is a perishable market. The hotel has some specific product opportunities . 75 % of this market consists of micro and small entrepreneurs who have a maximum of 50 apartments in its properties . Without government incentives and tax relief packages are characterized as the only solution for these entrepreneurs to leverage their business, " argues Omori .

For the representative of the Ministry of Tourism, the general coordinator of competitiveness and innovation , Jair Galvão , the government has developed specific actions for the development of the sector such as the Greater Brazil Plan . "This milestone has specifically contemplated the lodging sector with the exemption of payroll in addition to reducing electricity costs . The bureaucracy of Cadastur and launch incentive travel programs focusing on reducing seasonality , as the Best Travel More Age , are actions of the Ministry of Tourism to make the means of hosting more competitive Brazil , " he says.

Second, Galvao , the ABIH itself is a major partner in the development of domestic tourism, and was the protagonist , along with various other entities on efforts by the Ministry of Tourism which included the tourism sector in the set of measures to stimulate the national economy of the Government Federal .

In relation to Article 39 of the CRC, featuring imposing packages like tying , Galvao is exhaustive . " The entrepreneur can not , in our view , with service availability , condition your sale to purchase another service , regardless of seasonality , under penalty of being blamed by consumer protection agencies . The provisions of the Consumer Protection Code must be obeyed in all circumstances . "

In no doubt that the packages are an attractive way for companies and consumers . For the customer , the inclusion of extra services and other forms of subsidy are seductive when you close a longer trip and can , when well prepared , to meet their needs . For hotels and inns, packages serve as a differentiator in their offerings to make them more attractive in a competitive market such as seasonal and is the tourism market in Brazil .

The crucial point is opportunistic and imposing practice that characterizes most actions involving packages in hotels, this being the only way lodgings in specific periods . A movement that is spreading to various sectors of products and services in Brazil and finds barriers . Is the lack of supervision and restraint of the responsible public agencies , the dialogue between government and the sectors involved , and especially the ignorance and lack of complaints from consumers themselves .

Also in the country " who has to pay " there is another group of consumers creating new habits of consumption and tourism and that often are at the mercy of these abusive practices are not consistent products and services with this new profile .

There are tourists who see the packages safety and comfort for your travel and are willing to accept their conditions . However , there are people interested in the same destination on the same dates and with different profiles and tastes and the imposition of this business model are excluded . Consumers seeking good services and prefer to have the freedom to create your own script to a possible " stewardship " at any price. For example , stay overnight in a nearby town that holiday and so know more than one destination , dinner outside the hotel , etc. .

Today , unfortunately , that portion succumbs to this " exclusive" market packages and see their rights violated , just, framed on the wall of these establishments through the Code of Consumer Protection .

Values : x Interior Exterior

Simulated on a website specialized search on trips buying a daily in a 4 star hotel in the city of Serra Negra , São Paulo , for a weekend any . The "normal " daily offered to the couple in standart room , out to the actual value of R$ 200 with breakfast .

When we simulate the purchase for the period of Easter ( 18-21 April) we did not give housing option. We contacted the hotel and he told us that for the requested period " the hotel only works with packages ". Easter Package : 2,000 reais ( 3 days) or 2,500 reais ( 4 days) , breakfast and dinner included .. A quick account of the same dependencies on 4 night holiday hotel generates an increase in the profit margin of 312 % . Contrary to what is expected of a package , the benefits are not attractive rates are extra services such as meals . Options that often the client would not be interested . We contacted other hotels and B & Bs in town and all reported that they only work with packages in this period

We also made this simulation in Santiago, Chile. Immediately hotels give us the option of hosting the mentioned period ( 18 to 21 April) . In a 4 star hotel , 3 nights for the couple in standart room , with breakfast , goes for R$ 1,002 and 4 nights for R$ 1,552.
With option installments of up to 12 times .


Source : Uol - Modern Consumer

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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.

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