Australia's Woolworths, Coles Face Class Action Over Dodgy Discount Claims
Shoppers allege supermarket giants misled consumers about discounts
Two of Australia's biggest supermarket chains, Woolworths and Coles, are facing a class action lawsuit over allegations they misled customers about discounts.
The lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court of Australia, alleges that Woolworths and Coles engaged in "unconscionable conduct" by advertising products as being on sale when they were actually not.
The lawsuit alleges that the supermarkets used a variety of tactics to mislead customers, including:
- Advertising products as being on sale for a limited time when they were actually on sale for the same price or a higher price for an extended period of time.
- Using "compare to" prices that were inflated or inaccurate.
- Failing to clearly disclose the terms and conditions of their sales.
The lawsuit is being brought on behalf of shoppers who purchased products from Woolworths and Coles between 2009 and 2023.
Woolworths and Coles deny the allegations
Woolworths and Coles have both denied the allegations made in the lawsuit.
Woolworths said in a statement that it "strongly disputes the allegations" and that it is "committed to providing customers with accurate and transparent information about our products and prices."
Coles said in a statement that it "rejects the allegations" and that it is "confident that our pricing practices comply with the law."
The case is set to go to trial in 2024
The case is set to go to trial in the Federal Court of Australia in 2024.
If the shoppers are successful in their lawsuit, they could be awarded damages, including compensation for the difference between the price they paid for the products and the price they should have paid.
Conclusion
The class action lawsuit against Woolworths and Coles is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the accuracy of supermarket pricing.
The outcome of the case could have a major impact on the way that supermarkets advertise their products and on the way that shoppers make purchasing decisions.
