die  Preisempfehlung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈpʁaɪ̯sʔɛmpfeːlʊŋ/

❓ What Exactly is a Preisempfehlung?

The German word die Preisempfehlung translates to recommended price or suggested price. It's a sales price for a product or service proposed by the manufacturer, importer, or wholesaler. Crucially, it's non-binding (unverbindlich), meaning the retailer can sell the item at that price, but doesn't have to. The actual selling price might be higher or lower.

Very often, the abbreviation UVP (or uVP) is used, which stands for unverbindliche Preisempfehlung (non-binding price recommendation). In English marketing, this corresponds closely to the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) or Recommended Retail Price (RRP). It often serves as a reference point for discounts or special offers.

⚠️ Attention: A Preisempfehlung is not price fixing (Preisbindung). Retailers are free to set their own prices.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar Insights: die Preisempfehlung

The noun „Preisempfehlung“ is feminine. The correct article is die.

It's a compound noun formed from „der Preis“ (the price) and „die Empfehlung“ (the recommendation). The gender is determined by the last part („die Empfehlung“), which is feminine.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Die unverbindliche Preisempfehlung des Herstellers liegt bei 99 Euro.
   (The manufacturer's non-binding recommended price is 99 Euros.)
2. Viele Kunden orientieren sich an der Preisempfehlung, bevor sie kaufen.
   (Many customers use the recommended price as a guide before buying.)
3. Der Händler unterschritt die Preisempfehlung deutlich, um Kunden anzulocken.
   (The retailer significantly undercut the recommended price to attract customers.)
4. Im Katalog finden Sie zu jedem Artikel die aktuelle Preisempfehlung.
   (In the catalogue, you'll find the current recommended price for each item.)

🛒 Using Preisempfehlung in Context

You'll often encounter die Preisempfehlung in retail (Einzelhandel), catalogues (Kataloge), on product packaging (Produktverpackungen), and in advertising (Werbung). It serves as a guideline for consumers and a marketing tool for manufacturers.

• Context: Primarily used in retail and marketing. Often used as a comparison price to highlight discounts (e.g., "UVP 199€, now only 149€!").
• Distinction: A Preisempfehlung is non-binding, unlike a Festpreis (fixed price) or Preisbindung (price fixing, which is illegal in many sectors).
• Abbreviation: Very commonly abbreviated as UVP (unverbindliche Preisempfehlung).

🧠 Memory Hooks for Preisempfehlung

Article Mnemonic: Remember that Empfehlung (recommendation) is feminine (die Empfehlung). Since it's the last part of the compound word, the whole word die Preisempfehlung is feminine. Think: "The nice recommendation leads to die Preisempfehlung."

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a manufacturer politely recommending (empfehlen) a price (Preis) to you. It's just a suggestion, a recommendation – a Preisempfehlung.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

😄 A Little Joke

Warum flüstern Preise im Laden?
(Why do prices whisper in the shop?)

Weil es unverbindliche Preisempfehlungen sind!
(Because they are non-binding price recommendations!)

📜 A Poem about Recommendation

Der Hersteller denkt, schlau und fein,
dieser Preis, der sollt' es sein.
Er schreibt es auf, ganz unverbindlich,
die Preisempfehlung, kundenfindlich.

Doch Händler schmunzeln leis,
"Wir machen unsern eig'nen Preis!"
Mal drüber, mal drunter, je nach Laune,
die UVP erzeugt Erstaune.

The manufacturer thinks, clever and fine,
This price, it really should align.
He writes it down, non-binding note,
The Preisempfehlung, helps sales float.

But retailers just smirk and grin,
"We'll set the price where we begin!"
Sometimes above, sometimes below,
The RRP makes eyebrows go!

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Vorschlag, doch kein Zwang,
steh oft auf Schildern, kurz und lang.
Der Hersteller gibt mich gern bekannt,
doch Händler nehmen's nicht zur Hand,
den Preis genau so festzulegen.
Wie nennt man mich auf allen Wegen?

I'm a suggestion, but not a must,
Often on signs, in me you trust (as a reference).
The maker likes to make me known,
But dealers often set their own,
Exact price for the things they're selling.
What am I called, the story telling?

Solution: die Preisempfehlung (or UVP / RRP / MSRP)

➕ Additional Information

Word Composition:

The word "Preisempfehlung" is a compound noun (Kompositum) made up of:

• der Preis: the price (monetary amount payable for goods or services).
• die Empfehlung: the recommendation (advice, suggestion; something recommended to someone).

Cultural Context:

The UVP (unverbindliche Preisempfehlung) plays a significant role in German retail as a reference point. From a competition law perspective, it's important that it remains genuinely "non-binding" and that retailers are not pressured into adhering to it.