Australian supermarket giant Coles faces serious legal scrutiny over its "Down Down" promotional strategy. Federal court evidence reveals the retailer systematically raised prices for extended periods before offering partial reductions advertised as discounts, leaving prices higher than original levels. In one striking example, dog food priced at four dollars for nearly a year jumped fifty percent to six dollars for one week, then settled at four fifty with a "Down Down" label. Coles' own lawyers admitted this pricing pattern was planned in advance with suppliers. While the company defended the practice by claiming competitors were worse, the case highlights broader concerns about consumer trust in major retailers. Industry experts question whether Coles can recover its reputation following this public exposure of deceptive pricing tactics.
