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Legal challenge against Lidl app-based discounts

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-18 22:17 UTC → 2026-09-30 04:31 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The German consumer protection organization vzbv is involved in legal proceedings against the retailer Lidl regarding its ‘Lidl Plus’ mobile app. The case, being heard by the Brandenburg Higher Regional Court, examines whether the app-based discount model constitutes discrimination. Critics and consumer advocates argue that requiring a smartphone, data plan, and digital literacy to access the lowest prices creates barriers for specific groups, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and younger individuals who may lack compatible devices. While the app provides coupons and loyalty programs, some studies indicate that actual savings average approximately one percent of total spending. A On September 30, the Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Brandenburg an der Havel dismissed the lawsuit. The court ~~ruling~~ did not rule on the merits of the discrimination claim, which argued that exclusive app-based discounts might violate the General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG). Instead, the case was dismissed on procedural grounds, with the court stating it was not the correct venue and that the matter should have been brought before a regional court (Landgericht) first. While app-based discounts remain permitted, the legal question of whether such systems unfairly disadvantage non-smartphone users remains unresolved. Similar legal challenges against retailers Penny and Netto are ongoing, and the Federal Court of Justice is expected ~~on September 29.~~ to address the issue in the future as the trend toward two-tier pricing tied to data sharing continues to face scrutiny.

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