Two price tags for one product: Ministry of Trade explains new retail rule

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration has clarified new retail rules requiring two price tags for certain products. The change took effect on October 10, following amendments to national internal trade regulations.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Aizhan Bizhanova discussed the update during a meeting with Almaty’s business community, emphasizing that the new measure aims to improve transparency for consumers.

“If a retailer offers an installment plan using their own funds, the price tag must show two prices — one for full upfront payment and another for installment purchase. This helps customers clearly understand how much they are paying for the product itself and how much for the installment option,” Bizhanova explained.

The rule applies primarily to high-value goods sold directly by merchants — such as cars, massage chairs, jewelry, fur products, and home appliances — where the seller independently assumes installment risks and may reflect them in the total price.
However, the ministry stressed that the rule does not apply to online marketplaces linked with banks, where installments are financed by bank loans rather than by the seller.

“If the sale is made through an e-commerce platform connected to a bank, the installment is provided by the bank under a credit agreement, regulated by the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market. The new rule concerns only installments offered directly by retailers,” the ministry clarified.

The updated regulation seeks to protect consumers by ensuring clear, transparent pricing and distinguishing between cash and installment-based purchases.