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Comparison Price

Information and description

Since December 1, 2003, industry associations within the building, hardware, and paint trade have agreed with the Swedish Consumer Agency (Konsumentverket) to introduce comparison prices in the sector. The requirement originates from the EU and the Consumer Agency (KV).

Comparison prices help customers create a clear and accurate basis for comparing each product’s retail price. The comparison price values are generated “automatically” from the calculated shelf price based on the provided information fields.

  • Comparison price unit: The unit in which the comparison price is expressed, e.g., kilogram, liter, or square meter.

  • Comparison price factor: The number of comparison price units per base price unit. The base price may be expressed in a completely different unit from the one used when the product is sold to the consumer.

Note that both fields must be filled in for the comparison price to function correctly. Values must be specified even if they are already used in other fields in the file. These fields must therefore be “designated” as comparison price fields.

The following comparison price units must be used

  • HST = 100 pieces

  • KG = kilogram

  • L = liter

  • M = meter

  • M2 = square meter

  • ST = piece

Example

Name

Price Unit

Comparison price unit

Comparison price factor

Trådspik VFZ 100x34 250st

PKT

HST

2,5

Finbetong 25kg

SÄC

KG

25

Byggplywood 12x1200x2440mm

ST

M2

2,93

Fasadfärg 10L

FRP

L

10

Tätningslist 30m

FRP

M

30

Lådknopp 5st

PÅS

ST

5
Products intended to cover a surface

Calculate the comparison price by dividing the price by the product’s surface area in square meters.

Example: A plasterboard measuring 2.4 x 120 cm, which equals 2.88 square meters, costs 49 SEK.
The comparison price is calculated by dividing the price, 49 SEK, by the number of square meters, 2.88.
The comparison price is therefore 17.01 SEK per square meter.

Products with a low unit price but sold in large packages

The comparison price may be stated as price per piece or per hundred pieces.

Example: 75 mm nails are sold in a package of 1,140 pieces at a price of 89.95 SEK.
The comparison price is calculated by dividing 89.95 SEK by the number of hundreds in the package, 11.40.
The comparison price is therefore 7.89 SEK per hundred pieces.

Note that this use of comparison pricing must be applied consistently, meaning it should be used even if the package contains fewer than 100 nails.

Clarifications

  • Paint – comparison price stated per liter.

  • Paper wallpaper – comparison price stated per meter.

  • Vinyl wallpaper or glass fiber fabric – comparison price stated per square meter.

  • Nails, screws, bolts, and similar items sold in both small and large packages, where price per piece would be confusing, are given comparison prices per 100 pieces. This applies even if the package contains fewer than 100 pieces.

Exceptions

  • Packages containing 50 g, 50 ml, or less.

  • Packages containing multiple different products.

  • Packages where the selling price equals the comparison price.

  • Products mainly sold for their cosmetic properties.

  • Wallpaper sold by the roll.

If any of the above exceptions apply to all packaging levels (primary, secondary, and tertiary), the fields do not need to be filled in.

However, the trade sector still requires this information even if the primary unit qualifies for an exception, as larger units are often sold to end customers.

Responsibilities

Supplier

The supplier provides values in the fields “Comparison Price Unit” and “Comparison Price Factor.”

Finfo

Checks that the specified unit complies with the rules for the “Comparison Price Unit” field.

Recipient

In the customer’s system, it must be possible to import the information and calculate the comparison price in relation to the sales price.