Europe
News and information from Europe πͺπΊ
(Current banner: La Mancha, Spain. Feel free to post submissions for banner images.)
Rules (2024-08-30)
- This is an English-language community. Comments should be in English. Posts can link to non-English news sources when providing a full-text translation in the post description. Automated translations are fine, as long as they don't overly distort the content.
- No links to misinformation or commercial advertising. When you post outdated/historic articles, add the year of publication to the post title. Infographics must include a source and a year of creation; if possible, also provide a link to the source.
- Be kind to each other, and argue in good faith. Don't post direct insults nor disrespectful and condescending comments. Don't troll nor incite hatred. Don't look for novel argumentation strategies at Wikipedia's List of fallacies.
- No bigotry, sexism, racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, dehumanization of minorities, or glorification of National Socialism. We follow German law; don't question the statehood of Israel.
- Be the signal, not the noise: Strive to post insightful comments. Add "/s" when you're being sarcastic (and don't use it to break rule no. 3).
- If you link to paywalled information, please provide also a link to a freely available archived version. Alternatively, try to find a different source.
- Light-hearted content, memes, and posts about your European everyday belong in other communities.
- Don't evade bans. If we notice ban evasion, that will result in a permanent ban for all the accounts we can associate with you.
- No posts linking to speculative reporting about ongoing events with unclear backgrounds. Please wait at least 12 hours. (E.g., do not post breathless reporting on an ongoing terror attack.)
- Always provide context with posts: Don't post uncontextualized images or videos, and don't start discussions without giving some context first.
(This list may get expanded as necessary.)
Posts that link to the following sources will be removed
- on any topic: Al Mayadeen, brusselssignal:eu, citjourno:com, europesays:com, Breitbart, Daily Caller, Fox, GB News, geo-trends:eu, news-pravda:com, OAN, RT, sociable:co, any AI slop sites (when in doubt please look for a credible imprint/about page), change:org (for privacy reasons), archive:is,ph,today (their JS DDoS websites)
- on Middle-East topics: Al Jazeera
- on Hungary: Euronews
Unless they're the only sources, please also avoid The Sun, Daily Mail, any "thinktank" type organization, and non-Lemmy social media (incl. Substack). Don't link to Twitter directly, instead use xcancel.com. For Reddit, use old:reddit:com
(Lists may get expanded as necessary.)
Ban lengths, etc.
We will use some leeway to decide whether to remove a comment.
If need be, there are also bans: 3 days for lighter offenses, 7 or 14 days for bigger offenses, and permanent bans for people who don't show any willingness to participate productively. If we think the ban reason is obvious, we may not specifically write to you.
If you want to protest a removal or ban, feel free to write privately to the admin that applied the rule (check modlog first to find who was it.)
view the rest of the comments
I think it's illegal in Europe to list prices excluding VAT, I know for sure it is in my home country Denmark, that makes it much simpler as a customer in Europe than in USA.
USA is a country of lawlessness, and lack of consumer protection, where sellers are allowed many "tricks" that are illegal in EU, it's not just the VAT, but also misleading labeling and marketing.
The amount of pharmaceutical ads are crazy when Iβve visited the US, sometimes with bogus claims. Their ad campaigns for pretty much everything is over the top since theyβre using aggressive tactics.
In Finland businesses that mainly target their sales to other businesses can list with VAT 0%.
In the consumer market tge VAT is mandatory.
I think it is similar in Germany. Businesses buying from each other don't have to pay VAT (so they can mark it as 0%, but it isn't misleading either, because they actually pay 0%), so that the vat is only paid by the end consumer.
But I am just writing this from memory, so I could be off. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong
Exactly, something that isn't even legal to advertise in EU, is aggressively advertised with misleading claims.
Here in Sweden you can list with and without, since businesses can buy without VAT (technically they get to subtract the VAT on purchases from their tax bill) so shops which have businesses clients tend to do both while regular shops only list it with VAT
For this reason, in Norway, prices are always including VAT, but on the receipt it is highlighted what part of the price is product/service and what is VAT, so companies can get the VAT refunded.
Yes which makes sense, since businesses deduct the VAT anyway.
I think pretty obviously we are talking consumers here. I also stated consumer protection.
Sure, but regular stores don't have such listings. Everything is VAT included.
We have physical stores doing both. It's not many, but common in office supply stores.
Yes, but I'm talking about regular stores. Not the kind that you visit for office supply and such. If you're aren't a business owner, you never have to think about VAT.
EU prices for consumer goods and services must be listed VAT inclusive, but price listings specifically aimed at exterior export or business customers can quote prices ex-VAT, as long as the VAT rate is also quoted and it is made clear these are b2b prices.
Which makes sense, because businesses deduct the VAT anyway.
I think pretty obviously we are talking consumers here. I also stated consumer protection.
And poisionous products to enhance taste and addiction.