<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335516</docID> <postdate>2024-12-17 16:16:55</postdate> <headline>Firms risk watchdog attack over dodgy ads during sales</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-335518" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20181226001377568618-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1005" height="670" /></p> <caption>Businesses are being warned not to engage in deceptive advertising during post-Christmas sales. (Dylan Coker/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Tess Ikonomou</b> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Businesses are being put on notice ahead of Boxing Day over misleading advertising, after Australia's consumer watchdog found concerning practices during Black Friday sales.</strong></p> <p>The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which conducted a sweep of sales ads online and in store, is worried the claims about the size and scope of discounts might be misleading consumers.</p> <p>ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said these included practices such as advertising claiming "site wide" discounts in addition to "was/now" pricing.</p> <p>"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," she said.</p> <p>"In the meantime, we are warning retailers ahead of post-Christmas sales that they must comply with Australian consumer law in all the claims they make.</p> <p>Ms Lowe said the watchdog would continue internet sweeps of advertising practices throughout late-December sales.</p> <p>"Businesses doing the right thing should not lose sales to businesses that are potentially misleading consumers," she said.</p> <p>People have raised these concerns with the consumer watchdog, which is collecting data about the prices of products before, during and after the sales period.</p> <p>The ACCC will review the data to decide whether businesses have artificially increased the price of goods to create the perception of a bigger sale.</p> <p>The commission has already found examples of products that were "on sale" for the same non-sale price.</p> <p>Under the rules, businesses cannot engage in misleading or deceptive conduct.</p> <p>Consumers are being urged to examine claims about discounts or savings carefully, particularly during sales periods.</p> <p>Ms Lowe said many consumers relied on sales to save money when shopping for products, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis.</p> <p>"Retailers must not seek to take advantage of this by misleading consumers," she said.</p> </body>