Freedom of choice for consumers is crucial. Dealers must not incur any additional costs due to mandatory conversion work and bureaucracy in the processes.

Vienna (OTS) – In Austria it applies Obligation to issue receipts as well as the cash register obligation, which interfaces each cash register directly with the Treasury. Therefore, every transaction is automatically reported, regardless of whether the customer carries a receipt or not. Against this background, the trade association is positive regarding the end of the mandatory receipts of up to 30 euros, provided that retailers are not forced into a digital receipt obligation.

Documentation required: minimum limit of 30 euros would have a positive effect on the environment

On the one hand, many small and medium-sized retailers are not able to process customer data at all, on the other hand, in some retail sectors, negative effects on efficiency in the checkout area can be expected, e.g. due to delays due to data collection and the sending of the digital receipt. The HV would not have understood the ÖVP’s latest proposal like this. “Therefore, we are open to this step, as long as there are no additional costs due to mandatory conversion efforts and bureaucracy in the processes.”explains trade association executive director Rainer Will.”

In the grocery trade alone, up to 4 million transactions are recorded every day. Economically, 2.8 billion transactions are assumed, of which around 70% are below 30 euros. Therefore, introducing a de minimis limit of 30 euros on a voluntary basis, as in France, would have a positive effect on the environment.

53% of retailers with an investment freeze – HV recommends investment support for digital receipts

The trade association recommends accompanying investment support for brick-and-mortar retailers, especially for SMEs and small local suppliers, so that they can make better use of the opportunities offered by digitization. Numerous domestic retailers already offer the option of digital receipts, many of which cooperate with competent HV partners such as warrify.

“However, times are challenging, 53% of retailers are currently unable to make any investments due to inflation and a lack of equity,” so Will. However, it is also clear that customers must continue to be able to receive a physical receipt so that any exchange options are available as before. This will hardly be relevant for a chocolate bar, but very much so for a T-shirt.

“If retailers are not forced into a digital receipt obligation and customers have the freedom to choose between receipt and no receipt for small amounts under 30 euros in order to continue to assert claims such as warranty rights depending on the product, then the mandatory receipt obligation under 30 Euro make sense and make a contribution to the environment, following around 70% of all evidence is below this value. It is now important to further specify the proposal with the involvement of all stakeholders so that added value for Austria as a business location is ensured”.says trade spokesman Rainer Will.

Questions & contact:

trade association
Mag. Gerald Kuhberger, MA
press secretary
+43 (01) 406 22 36 – 77
gerald.kuehberger@handelsverband.at
www.handelsverband.at

Mag. Manuel Friedl
Senior Communications Manager
+43 (01) 406 22 36 – 80
manuel.friedl@handelsverband.at
www.handelsverband.at