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‘Indication’: Coles’ big call on Down Down
- On Monday, the Federal Court in Melbourne opened the trial as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges Coles misled millions with illusory Down Down discounts.
- The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission filed evidence from a 255-product sample collected over 15 months, showing a pattern of a long initial price, a median 28-day second price, then a third 'Down Down' price that was equal or higher.
- Evidence included internal Coles emails warning that advertising a `Down Down` price just four weeks after a cheaper price was 'not in the spirit' of the campaign, with an example of Nature's Gift Wet Dog Food sold for $4 then promoted at $4.50.
- A ruling against Coles could trigger class actions and refunds, with customers seeking cash back and pricing practices forced to change.
- The Albanese government’s July 1 ban on excessive grocery pricing could tighten rules on `Was, Now` discounting and impact Woolworths' pending case, regulators say.
25 Articles
25 Articles
'The case of the century': Coles faces giant lawsuit accused of misleading discounts
A high stakes Federal Court showdown has begun between the competition watchdog and Coles, over allegations it misled customers with deceptive discounts. The supermarket giant has defended itself saying the promotions were genuine, and prices were influenced by inflation.
Coles Accused of ‘Utterly Misleading’ Grocery Prices
Supermarket giant Coles has been accused of artificially increasing prices before reducing them and claiming it as a discount. Australia’s consumer watchdog is pursuing the chain through the Federal Court for allegedly misleading consumers with its “down down, prices are down” campaign. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) case against Coles began on Feb. 16, with its lawyers accusing the company of using “utterly misleadi…
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