9News | Bargain bust-up: Court to rule on Coles' alleged 'fake' discounts by 9News AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. In a landmark Federal Court case, Justice Michael O'Bryan will decide today whether Coles deliberately misled shoppers with its “Down Down” price campaign, which the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges involved briefly raising prices before discounting them to a level still higher than the original. The ACCC identified hundreds of such products, including a Nature’s Gift dog food that was promoted at $4.50 after a short‑term increase to $6. Coles argues the discounts were genuine and reflect normal inflation‑driven price rises, while the watchdog claims the retailer disguised price hikes as promotions. Consumer‑law experts say a ruling against Coles could bring massive fines and force a change in how Australian supermarkets market discounts, and will also influence a similar pending case against Woolworths. Read more: https://www.9news.com.au/national/court-to-rule-on-coles-down-down-discounts/87c74739-1bf4-48da-8a61-9c4361392f1d #Coles #ACCC #Woolworths #JeanniePaterson #MelbourneUniversity #GarryRich #FederalCourt #NaturesGift #national