Multiple pricing

Multiple pricing occurs when a supplier displays more than one price for the same item or service. If a supplier displays the same item with more than one price then they must sell it for the lowest displayed price or withdraw the item until the price is corrected.

A price published in a catalogue or advertisement is a displayed price. If mistakes in catalogues or advertisements have occurred, they can be fixed by publishing a retraction in a publication with a similar circulation to the original advertisement.

Component pricing

A supplier must not promote or state a price that is only part of the cost, unless also prominently advertising the single (total) price.

A service that is supplied under a contract that allows periodic payments then a single price does not have to be displayed as prominently as the component prices.

The single price does not have to include a charge for sending goods from the supplier to the consumer, unless the supplier is aware of a minimum charge that must be paid.

The single price must be:

• clear at the time of the sale
• as prominent as the most prominent component of the price.

The single price is the total of all measurable costs and includes:

• any charge payable, and
• the amount of any tax, duty, fee, levy or charges (for example, GST).

Civil and criminal penalties apply for failing to comply with single price requirements.