Fake Supermarket Specials Tracker
A fake special is a promotion where the was price was never actually charged for a meaningful period before the promotion began. ShopHop tracks price history across Woolworths, Coles and Aldi every day to flag promotions that are not supported by observed pricing history, using the same standard the ACCC applied in its Federal Court case against Coles.
The Federal Court ruling, Coles May 2026
On 14 May 2026 the Federal Court found that Coles had made false or misleading representations about its Down Down promotional prices across 245 products. The ACCC alleged that prices were temporarily raised before a promotion so the promoted price was the same as or higher than the original regular price. A case against Woolworths over its Prices Dropped programme is still before the court.
How ShopHop detects fake specials
ShopHop applies the ACCC minimum information standard for was and now price representations. The standard requires that a was price be the genuine selling price for at least 28 of the last 90 days. Promotions are flagged with evidence levels:
- Not supported: was price observed for fewer than 14 of the last 90 days
- Weak evidence: was price observed for 14 to 27 days
- Supported: was price observed for 28 or more days
These are informational indicators based on observed pricing data. They do not constitute legal findings.
Current detection status
ShopHop has been building price history since 21 April 2026. The full 90 day baseline completes on 20 July 2026, after which detection reaches full strength. See current specials →
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Search any product →Frequently asked questions
A fake special is a promotion where the was price was never actually charged for a meaningful period before the promotion began, so the discount overstates the genuine saving.