Consumer Protection Association urges shoppers to check receipts as pricing discrepancies on discounted items trigger complaints
Dubai: Consumers have complained about significant differences between the prices displayed on shelves and the prices charged at checkout counters, particularly for products included in promotional campaigns.
Several shoppers said they discovered, after reviewing their receipts, that discounted items had been billed at prices substantially higher than those advertised on shelves, resulting in unexpected additional costs.
The Emirates Consumer Protection Association confirmed that it has received a number of complaints regarding price discrepancies between shelf labels and invoices, describing such practices as misleading and a violation of consumer rights. The association urged consumers to review receipts before leaving stores and to report repeated incidents or cases where management fails to rectify the issue.
Shoppers report large price differences
Consumer Basem Zaher said he discovered significant discrepancies between the advertised prices of promotional items and the prices charged on his receipt, leading to a higher overall bill.
Consumer Hassan Hamed said he noticed the difference while paying for his purchases, citing a product that was advertised on the shelf at around AED15 but scanned at approximately AED26 at the checkout.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Ali said such discrepancies are recurring and can significantly increase household shopping costs, especially for consumers purchasing a large number of items based on a pre-planned budget.
Consumer association calls for vigilanceMohammed Abdullah Al Naour, Secretary-General of the Emirates Consumer Protection Association.
Mohammed Abdullah Al Naour, Secretary-General of the Emirates Consumer Protection Association, said the difference between shelf prices and the prices charged at the checkout should be reported immediately to store management and relevant authorities if repeated.
He said the association had received a number of complaints related to the issue and stressed the importance of consumer awareness in identifying and reporting pricing errors.
Al Naour advised consumers to:
Review receipts immediately after payment.Use price scanners where available.Photograph shelf prices when discrepancies are found.Demand correction of any pricing errors.Contact local economic departments if store management fails to respond.
He stressed that the price displayed on the shelf must match the price charged at the point of sale, adding that any discrepancy constitutes misleading conduct and a violation of consumer protection regulations.
According to Al Naour, such issues typically occur with promotional items when offers expire but promotional labels remain on shelves or when checkout systems are not updated in line with new discounts.
Retailers cite unintentional errors
Mohammed Al Hashemi, CEO of Union Coop, said price mismatches between shelves and checkout systems are unacceptable and generally result from unintended operational errors.
He explained that some promotional offers apply to limited quantities, and once those products have sold out, prices may automatically revert to standard rates within the checkout system.
Al Hashemi stressed that shelf prices should always match checkout prices and encouraged consumers to review their receipts and report any inconsistencies.
Similarly, Dilip Vishal, a purchasing manager at a retail outlet, said most price discrepancies stem from delays in operational updates, such as failing to remove expired promotional labels or delays in updating pricing systems linked to checkout counters.
He said such oversights can result in consumers being charged higher prices than those displayed on shelves.
