Lidl Sale of 200,000 Fans and Mobile Air Conditioners Causes Queues, Violence and Store Closures

Overview

• Lidl put 200,000 ventilators and mobile air‑conditioners on sale nationwide Thursday, with many stores receiving only a handful of units and long pre‑opening queues forming.
• In several locations customers fought over stock, doors were damaged, police intervened, and Lidl temporarily closed multiple stores after reports of injuries and the alleged use of tear gas.
• Public health services placed urgent orders — reported at about 30,000 units — while some buyers and resellers already listed devices on second‑hand sites at much higher prices.
• Lidl said the promotion was planned months earlier and attributed short local supplies to its normal product cycle, and politicians and consumer groups have filed complaints asking regulators to investigate safety and marketing practices.
• The rush underlines how heat waves can overwhelm retail logistics and leave elderly and low‑income households exposed, and authorities and shoppers will be watching for DGCCRF findings and any changes to event sales rules.