The school bag mafia has struck: a German manufacturer took advantage of the fact that no child can go to class without a school backpack – and agreed the prices with two well-known Austrian dealers. Ultimately, such cartels are also harmful to consumers, and many families suffer from the high cost of going to school.
It was observant parents who started this case: they contacted the Federal Competition Authority (BWB) with complaints. What followed: investigations and house searches, both in Germany at the manufacturer Fond of GmbH and at dealers in Austria. It turned out that the Fond of GmbH had set the prices for school bags and accessories for its “satch” and “ergobag” brands in a binding way – Thalia and Kastner & Öhler followed suit.
Despite the cooperation, all three companies were fined a total of 510,000 euros. The now bankrupt Hausmann wholesaler would also have cooperated in the price agreements, but was not punished because of his economic situation.
Going to school costs an average of 300 euros per child
Cartels such as this are prohibited for a reason, because such price fixing hinders effective competition – which is also disadvantageous for the consumer. And if going to school is not cheap anyway: according to the Chamber of Labor (AK), parents spend an average of about 300 euros per child. Compared to last year, school supplies were about ten percent more expensive. At notebooks, pens & Co. there are price differences of more than 160 percent for one and the same product.
Up to 250 euro price difference for school bags
According to the experts at AK, the price comparison is definitely worth it – especially when it comes to sets with satchels. “Depending on the content and quality, these will cost between 50 and 300 euros this year,” says AK expert Manuela Delapina. However, the focus should always be on the quality of the school bag: a precise fit and a fully padded back area are important, and the material must also be resilient, tear-resistant and waterproof.
If the child goes to school all day, the school bag should also have a suitable place for the school snack. In principle, the packed school bag should not weigh more than one tenth of your body weight. Empty, it may not exceed 1200 grams.
Better quality equals longer life
Under no circumstances should parents be mistaken when shopping for school: the quality of the school utensils says a lot about their longevity. Cheap felt-tip pens dry out much faster, paints with a high water content have fewer color pigments and cheap ink erasers don’t completely erase the ink. “By buying more sustainable, therefore more sustainable products, you can ultimately save money! However, caution is advised with prestige branded products. There are also lesser-known branded products whose quality is also very good and which are not that expensive,” according to the AK.
By the way, cheap school supplies are also available second-hand – for example in the Carla stores of Caritas.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
