Consumer Council Warns Shoppers About Price Differences in Supermarkets

The Consumer Council of Fiji has issued an urgent public alert warning shoppers about price differences between shelf prices and checkout prices in supermarkets.

In a statement released on 18 December 2025, the Council said it has found that many items displayed with discounted or promotional prices on shelves are being scanned at higher prices at the checkout.

The Council said shoppers often do not receive the advertised discount unless they notice the error and tell the cashier. Customers who are in a hurry and do not check their receipts may end up paying more than expected.

The problem is commonly seen with items near their expiry date, fruits and vegetables, and promotional products that are displayed separately with discounted prices.

The Council said in many cases, cashiers have to manually change the price at the checkout to apply the correct discount. While some retailers blame human error, the Council said the repeated nature of the problem raises concerns.

Commenting on the issue, the CEO of the Consumer Council of Fiji said retailers have a responsibility to make sure prices are accurate, especially during the busy Christmas shopping period.

“The recurring mismatch between shelf prices and checkout prices cannot simply be dismissed as mistakes,” the CEO said. “Shoppers must be able to trust that the price they see on the shelf is the price they pay at the checkout.”

The Council warned that even small price differences can add up, especially for families buying many items during the festive season.

The Consumer Council is urging shoppers to carefully check prices at the cash register and review their receipts before leaving the store. Any price differences should be raised with store management and reported to the Consumer Council.

The Council said it will continue to monitor supermarkets throughout the festive season and beyond. Shoppers can report concerns by calling the National Consumer Helpline on 155 or by emailing complaints@consumersfiji.org