Credit: ACCC
Ugg footwear retailer Christofi Investments has paid $39,600 in penalties after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued two infringement notices over alleged misleading pricing claims on the Ugg Originals and Ugg Australia Classic websites.
The ACCC alleges Christofi advertised classic ugg slippers and platform uggs with discounted prices alongside higher strikethrough "was" prices, despite the products not being offered or sold at those higher prices during a reasonable period beforehand.
Christofi owns the Ugg Australia Classic website and administers the Ugg Originals website.
ACCC commissioner Luke Woodward said consumers may have been misled about the discounts.
"The ACCC was concerned that consumers were likely to have been misled by the Ugg websites’ claims they were getting ugg boots and slippers at a genuine discount, when we allege this was not the case," Woodward said.
"It is a breach of Australian Consumer Law to mislead consumers about products or pricing. We remind retailers that the ACL applies just as much to online stores as it does to bricks and mortar stores."
Woodward said the regulator would continue targeting misleading pricing practices.
"The ACCC continues to actively pursue cases involving misleading pricing practices by supermarkets and other retailers. False pricing claims do not just cause harm to consumers, they harm competing retailers who present their prices fairly and accurately."
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.