Latest news with #LisaWebb
Metro
13-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
High street retailers accused of 'duping' customers with TV discounts
Retailers are duping shoppers with 'misleading discounts' on pricey TVs, Which? has warned. The consumer watchdog found that some retailers make out their 'Was/now' deals are better than they are. Which? analysed more than 1,600 television sales across five retailers: Currys, Argos and the online shops Very, and Amazon. Investigators found more than half (56%) of the 'was' prices used in promotions were not the most recent prices before the discount. Often, these higher previous price tags were only in place briefly, or the prices had changed several times over a few weeks. Four in 10 TV sets had a 'was' price tag only in effect for less time than the discounted price, giving the illusion of a saving. A third of all the TVs reviewed (33%) were doubly misleading, with the 'now' price and promotional period longer than the 'was' price. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Nearly nine in 10 (87%) of TV deals on Very used a 'was' price that wasn't the most recent. An LG OLED65B46LA, 65-inch, LED, 4K UHD, Smart TV on the shopping website had a £1,499 price tag in November, with its 'was' price at £2,499. Yet Which? said this discount is 'less impressive' than it seems, given the model had been sold for seven different prices since the 'was' price in June. Electronics store Currys was criticised by Which? after it found three-quarters (75%) of its 608 TV deals had outdated 'was' price stickers. Nearly seven in 10 of the TVs had a higher price for a shorter time than the slashed one, such as the LG UT73 50-inch TV, which had an earlier price of £399.99 before 'now' being £299.99. Yet Which? found the higher price tag had only been in place for 25 days, compared to 207 days at the lower one. One third of TVs sold by also listed a 'was' price that wasn't the most recent. But Which? said they 'weren't likely to mislead shoppers' as the online store lists the date the 'was' price was last used as well as stressing that intervening prices may have applied. Argos performed the best out of the four retailers, with nearly all of its 'was' prices reflecting the price immediately before the promotion. Amazon used a slightly different playbook to flogging discounted TVs, Which? said. Four in 10 TVs sold on the market platform had a 'was' price that wasn't the most recent. But Amazon considers the 'was' price not as the most recent one, but the 'median selling price paid by customers for that product on its website'. More Trending Which? said: 'We're also concerned that the exclusion of promotional prices may mean those so-called 'was' prices are higher than they might have been. We believe this approach could be confusing for shoppers.' Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, added: 'Shoppers deserve clear, honest pricing – not smoke and mirrors. 'If retailers are using dodgy was/now discounts to create the illusion of a bargain, then we expect the competition regulator to take enforcement action. View More » 'Anyone in the market for a new TV or any other expensive purchase should take any such discounts with a pinch of salt and check price tracking sites like CamelCamelCamel or Price Runner to ensure they are getting a genuine deal before making a decision.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Poundland has been a lifeline for me – I'm sick of the snobbery MORE: Amazon confirms beloved 98-year-old star will return in 2027 sequel to iconic 80s comedy MORE: 45 of the best last-minute Father's Day gifts for every kind of dad, stepdad or grandad Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major high street retailers duping shoppers with ‘misleading discounts' on pricey TVs, Which? warns
Plus, we've explained how to compare prices to always get the best deal SHOPPERS looking for a new television may want to think twice before trusting the discounts advertised by some of the UK's biggest retailers. An investigation by consumer champion Which? has revealed questionable pricing practices at Currys, Very, and other major sellers, potentially misleading customers into believing they are getting better deals than they actually are. Advertisement 1 Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, said: "Shoppers deserve clear, honest pricing - not smoke and mirrors." Credit: Getty Which? analysed over 1,600 television deals across five retailers. More than half (56%) of the "was" prices used in promotions were not the most recent prices charged before the discount. Which? said this tactic can create the illusion of massive savings when, in reality, the higher price may not have been charged for months – or was only briefly in place. Plus, four in 10 TVs (40%) had a "was" price that was only in effect for less time than the discounted price. Advertisement And a third of all the TVs reviewed (33%) were doubly misleading, with both intervening prices and promotional periods longer than the higher "was" price. Which? said the findings are concerning because UK consumer protection guidance states that a "was" price must represent the genuine price immediately prior to the discount. Retailers that dodge these rules risk enforcement action from authorities such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, said: "Shoppers deserve clear, honest pricing - not smoke and mirrors. Advertisement "If retailers are using dodgy was/now discounts to create the illusion of a bargain then we expect the competition regulator to take enforcement action. 'Anyone in the market for a new TV or any other expensive purchase should take any such discounts with a pinch of salt and check price tracking sites like CamelCamelCamel or Price Runner to ensure they are getting a genuine deal before making a decision." Shopping discounts - How to make savings and find the best bargains Which retailers were the worst offenders? Very emerged as the worst offender in the Which? investigation. Of the 399 TV deals reviewed, nearly nine in 10 (87%) used "was" prices that were not the most recent, and over half (53%) had higher prices that were in place for less time than the promotional price. Advertisement For example, the LG OLED65B46LA 65-inch TV was advertised with a "was" price of £2,499 and a "now" price of £1,499. However, the £2,499 price hadn't been charged for five months and had been replaced by seven lower price points during that time. Currys also came under fire, with three-quarters (75%) of its 608 TV deals featuring outdated "was" prices. Plus, it had the highest rate (68%) of TVs where the higher price applied for a shorter time than the discounted price. Advertisement An example includes the LG UT73 50-inch TV, which had a "was" price of £399.99 and a "now" price of £299.99. The higher price had only been in place for 25 days, compared to 207 days at the lower price. What about other retailers? While AO was also found to use intervening prices in a third (33%) of its deals, it provides transparency by publishing the dates of its "was" prices and acknowledging that lower prices may have applied. This makes AO's deals less likely to mislead shoppers, Which? said. Advertisement Argos performed the best, with nearly all of its "was" prices reflecting the price immediately before the promotion, offering customers a more accurate picture of potential savings. Amazon's pricing practices were also reviewed, but the retailer uses a different approach. Its "was" prices reflect the median price paid by customers over the past 90 days, excluding promotional offers. While this is a distinct method, Which? has concerns that it could still confuse shoppers and make discounts appear larger than they are. Advertisement Which? also revealed earlier this week that Sports Direct shoppers are being misled by deceptive pricing tactics, creating the illusion of bargain deals.
Perth Now
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Lisa's locked in! Dockers' coach inks two-year extension
Fremantle have locked in senior coach Lisa Webb for another two seasons, just weeks out from the club's 2025 AFLW campaign. Webb, who has been at the helm for the past two seasons after playing six games for the Dockers in 2018, will remain in purple until at least the end of 2027. It comes after Fremantle returned to finals last year, having finished fifth on the ladder despite missing key players including captain Ange Stannett and four-time best and fairest winner Kiara Bowers, as well as spearhead Aine Tighe for most of the season. Webb said her players had shown 'incredible determination and a willingness to learn and adapt' as she signed the dotted line on a two-year extension. PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 19: Lisa Webb, Senior Coach of the Dockers addresses the players at the break during the 2024 AFLW Round 08 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos) Credit: Daniel Carson / AFL Photos 'It's been a privilege to witness their growth and see them embrace challenges with such enthusiasm,' Webb said. Dockers head of AFLW Claire Heffernan was thrilled to re-sign the 41-year-old as the club chases a maiden premiership. 'The positive impact Webby has had on our program has been immeasurable' Heffernan said. 'Her commitment to educating and developing our players, as well as building a connected and high performing culture allows us to constantly evolve and build towards sustained success. 'We are confident that under her continued leadership, Fremantle will achieve even greater heights in the coming seasons.' Fremantle will travel to Alberton Oval to face Port Adelaide in their season-opening clash on August 17, before hosting Brisbane at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on August 23 in their first home game.
Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
High street chain with over 500 shops ‘breaking law with misleading prices', Which? warns
Scroll to find out why your deal may mot be as good as it seems SHOPPING PAIN High street chain with over 500 shops 'breaking law with misleading prices', Which? warns Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SPORTS DIRECT shoppers are being tricked into thinking they are getting a bargain by misleading pricing, according to consumer campaigners. Which? accused the High Street giant of using 'dodgy' Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs) to make discounts seem better than they really are to boost sales. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Sports Direct has been accused of misleading pricing Credit: Getty The chain could be breaking the law, says Which? and has reported the business to regulators. An item's RRP should reflect the price at which shops usually sell a product for, according to the Advertising Standards Authority. This is so customers can easily work out how much of a saving they are making when buying at a knockdown price. Investigators at the consumer rights group checked the pricing of 160 popular products on And said it was unable to find 58 of the 160 products on sale anywhere for Sports Direct's claimed RRP – or Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) - raising questions over whether those prices were genuine. The items included a green Jack Wills Hunston graphic logo hoodie on sale with Sports Direct for £24 with an MSRP of £54.99. Researchers could only find it on sale for £40 on Amazon and for £24 elsewhere, with no-one apparently selling it for £54.99. And a pair of Slazenger men's drive tennis shoes were being sold by SportsDirect for £32.99, nearly half the MSRP of £64.99. Which? found the trainers for sale on eight other websites – all run by SportsDirect's parent company - for either £32.99 or £33. Only one retailer, Slazenger itself, sold them at the RRP but that price is supposed to represent what retailers generally sell a product for. Ex-Sports Direct employee reveals high street stores secrets At the same time, a Whitaker Somerford long sleeve baselayer was on sale for £8 with an RRP of £35. Which? could only find it listed elsewhere for £18 –a long way short of the supposed RRP. The consumer champion reckons Sports Direct's use of RRPs and MSRPs could be 'misleading actions' under a 2008 Unfair Trading law to protect shoppers. It has presented its findings to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Which? legal expert Lisa Webb said: 'If Sports Direct is misleading customers by inappropriate use of RRPs to dupe them into thinking they are getting a good deal, then the competition regulator needs to step in and take strong action to stop this from happening. 'In the meantime, shoppers should take any big discounts at with a pinch of salt and make sure they compare prices with other retailers before parting with any hard earned cash.' This is not the first time the chain has been accused of using misleading RRPs. In 2015 Channel 4's Dispatches said the firm was hiking RRPs to lead customers into believing they were getting a bargain. Sports Direct's owner, Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, has a large portfolio of brands under its umbrella including Jack Wills, Slazenger, Everlast and Lonsdale. Frasers Group also owns various retailers such as USC, Studio, and Get the Label, which sometimes appear to be the only sellers of these particular brands, Which? added. Sports Direct was founded by Mike Ashley, 60 – now the UK's 52nd richest man with a £3.12bn fortune – when he opened his first sports shop in Maidenhead in 1982 aged just 18. The firm has been contacted for comment. A Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) spokesperson said: 'We'll carefully consider the findings from Which?'s research. "All businesses need to ensure that they comply with consumer law, which includes not misleading their customers over pricing.' Top Tips To Nab The Best Shopping Bargains Finding deals and offers can be tricky if you don't know where to look. Here's a list of hacks you can use to become a bargain-hunting pro and save on your shopping bill: Join Facebook groups - Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, Latest Deals and Reduce Your Supermarket Spend are all Facebook groups helping you reduce your spending and find good deals Get following - Follow your favourite shops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and sign up to its newsletters to get the latest on any offers Check hotukdeals - The deal-sharing website lists offers as they're spotted by savvy shoppers Use barcode scanners - Retailers such as B&M let shoppers scan the barcodes on its app to see if it's cheaper than the price listed on the shelf
ITV News
30-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Wary of making a complaint against your vet ? Here's how to escalate concerns
animals Vet Pet owners feel the odds are "stacked against them" when raising concerns against vets, leaving many put off filing complaints, according to a leading consumer group. New research by Which? found that more than a third of owners did not raise concerns, because they did not want to fall out with their vet, while 16% did not know how to complain. It also showed that more than 50% of pet owners consider the price of vet care was excessive, despite just less than a quarter saying they have issues with the quality of care. How can pet owners escalate complaints? ITV News explains. Are pet owners protected under the law? According to Lisa Webb, a legal expert at Which?, pet owners are protected under the law. If a vet has acted negligently, pet owners can seek compensation or damages from the veterinary practice, Webb said. Under the Consumer Rights Act, vets have a duty to provide a 'service with reasonable care and skills', according to Which? They are also expected to be open and honest about fees under the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Code of Professional Conduct. What can you do if you are unhappy with the service provided? If you are unhappy with the service provided, Which? says you can either complain to the practice directly or request a remedy under the Consumer Rights Act. This could include redoing part or all of the service at no extra cost, or agreeing to a price reduction or refund. How can you complain to the practice? Which? advises that customers should first speak to the practice about their complaint. If this does not resolve the issue, customers can then ask the veterinary practice for its complaints procedure. Each practice will its own way of handling complaints. The practice must provide the complaints handling policy, their regulator and their insurer's details when asked, Which? says. What if the complaint still isn't resolved? You can escalate your complaint further by seeking help from the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS). Which? says they can help if you are seeking: An apology A refund Corrective or further treatment A payment of goodwill As this is a voluntary service, the vet must agree to the VCMS' involvement, according to Which? You can also complain to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. They deal with the most serious complaints including very poor professional performance, criminal convictions and fraud or dishonesty, Which? says.
