Retailers engaged in misleading advertising practices during the Black Friday sales period, according to the Competition and Consumer Competition (ACCC).The consumer watchdog's latest internet sweep found that a number of claims about the size and scope of discounts may have misled consumers.Examples of concerning practices flagged by the ACCC included, 'sitewide' discounts that were not in fact sitewide, misleading was/now pricing tactics, as well as claims about the value of the discount on offer.
An ACCC provided example of a 'storewide' sale when a range of products were excluded. (Supplied)ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe is now warning retailers about misleading advertising ahead of the post-Christmas sales period."We are further considering some of these examples for investigation and action, and the ACCC has already asked a number of retailers to justify their advertising claims," Lowe said."We have also seen many instances of appropriate and accurate advertising during the Black Friday sales. These include prominent exclusions and accurate claims about the scope of sales."
An example of claims that items are discounted by a further percentage where it is unclear how to get those deals. (ACCC)Australia's most trusted brands for 2024View GalleryThe ACCC will continue its internet sweep of advertising practices through out late December. During the sweep, the ACCC will collect data about the cost of retail goods, before and after the sales period, to crackdown on was/now pricing and determine whether businesses have artificially inflate the prices of goods."We know that many consumers rely on sales to save money when shopping for products, especially during this time of cost of living pressure, and when people may be seeking to save up for holidays and festivities," Lowe said."Retailers must not seek to take advantage of this by misleading consumers."
