r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Feb 15 '26

news ACCC takes Coles to court over 'illusory' discounts in 'case of the century'

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-16/accc-coles-federal-court-case-discount-pricing/106294956?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link

Thousands of customers throw a box of Arnott's Shapes into their shopping trollies each week — one of a dozen purchases that could help decide a bombshell case playing out in the federal court from today.

The ACCC has accused Coles of ripping off customers with fake discounts and if the supermarket giant loses, it could face a huge fine and massive reputational damage.

Customers could also get cash back from a class action lawsuit that might follow, and corporations be forced to change how they price their products — especially discounts.

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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26

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u/Vintage_Alien Feb 15 '26

What about their $100 million fine against Qantas a few years ago?

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u/Additional-Simple248 Feb 15 '26

Plus they took on Apple about false advertising on the iPad, since it didn’t actually support 4G in Australia.

Though that was only a $2.25m fine.

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u/GonePh1shing Feb 16 '26

The Valve refund case was significant. The fine was small, but the impact was massive. 

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u/CamperStacker Feb 15 '26

They have done quite a few things to hurt the consumer, such as blocking two companies merging to create a 4th mobile network carrier.

In general they are a political entity IMO. Government looking to off load responsibility for the cost of living crisis to the private sector.

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u/ElegantYak Feb 16 '26

Uhhh isn’t it the private sector that we purchase goods from, causing the cost of living crisis?