As of: February 29, 2024, 5:03 a.m
By: Romina Kunze
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Get money out at the checkout instead of paying in?
Not like that, a Rewe branch probably thought.
From ten euros, the deposit should only be offset against the purchase.
Kassel - Since 2022, deposits have also been charged on juice and smoothies, and at the beginning of the year also on dairy products.
You can collect a hefty sum at the deposit machine.
If a supermarket branch has its way, it should, if possible, not leave the store.
In the future, deposit returns of more than 10 euros will only be paid out if purchases are made at the same time in the market for the same value of the deposit voucher.
A supermarket provides information about this via a note on its reverse vending machine.
The regulation doesn't sound entirely legitimate.
“It can never be legal”: Supermarket refuses to pay cash for empties of ten euros or more
On the social media platform Reddit, a user shares a photo of the information sheet in question.
“Dear customers, empties payouts from 10 euros will now only be made in conjunction with a purchase of at least the value of the empties,” is written on a yellow piece of paper.
Accordingly, customers only left the store with empties under ten euros - everything else would be offset against their purchase.
Reactions don't take long to arrive.
“This can never be legal,” writes one user.
Another even wants to see a “distortion of competition” in practice;
“The other supermarkets have to accept them,” he says.
Another notes that the maximum amount would be reached quickly, with around four boxes of empties.
“So if someone wants to take away deposits after a party but maybe doesn’t want to go shopping, it’s not possible,” he criticizes.
Reddit users give professional tips for questionable deposit regulations
Some users immediately come up with solutions to the problem: “If you have more than 10 euros in empties and don’t want to buy anything, just go in twice,” is the pragmatic approach.
“I have ten vouchers here for 9.75 euros each,” jokes another spitefully.
Either way, it's nothing compared to the insider tip of a savings professional from Kassel;
provided you are a Payback customer.
Apparently the market in question is a Rewe branch in Mannheim.
When asked by
IPPEN.MEDIA
to the Rewe Group, a company spokesman confirmed this and clarified: “The sign has been removed because the regulation is not permitted.”
Just recently, a bizarre notice made the rounds in a branch of the retail chain;
probably for slow-witted customers.
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Deposit regulations: Packaging law clearly stipulates what applies and what does not
The feeling of many users is not deceptive, the procedure of the Rewe branch in question was illegal.
The deposit requirement has been in effect in Germany since 2003, and since 2019 this has been regulated in the applicable packaging law “VerpackG” (previously the Packaging Ordinance).
Markets cannot refuse empties per se.
“Retailers must take back the empty packaging and pay out the disposable deposit of 25 cents,” explains the consumer advice center on the subject on its homepage.
The bottles and cans given as a deposit do not have to be bought in the respective market, nor do new drinks have to be bought for the refund.
And: “The dealer cannot tie his obligation to take back goods or the amount of the deposit to be paid out to conditions such as the amount of the deposit voucher or the purchase value,” it says on the Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH homepage.
In the event of irregular problems with the acceptance of empties in supermarkets and other retailers, the consumer advice center offers a sample letter to the relevant public order office.
However, it is important that the respective deposit type is also sold by the respective dealer.
So if a market only sells cans, it only has to accept cans.
If you only sell single-use plastic bottles, reusable PET bottles may be rejected.
Exception: Smaller stores (less than 200 square meters of retail space), such as a kiosk, only have to take back empties of brands and materials that they carry in their own range.
By the way: Deposit vouchers are usually valid for three years. Redeeming them in a different store than when they were issued is at best a gesture of goodwill.
(rku)