Price promotions

When running price promotions or 'special offers', it’s against the law for businesses to give a false or misleading previous price. For example, if the retailer crosses out one price and replaces it with another, lower, price, the goods in question must have been on sale in the same place, or a significant number of outlets in the case of a chain, at that previous price for a reasonable time. The definition of "a reasonable time" is not specified by law, but our guidelines state that goods should have been on sale for 28 consecutive days in the 3 months before the price was reduced.

If a chain or a business with more than one outlet advertises goods at a certain price, that price should apply in all its outlets where the goods are sold - unless the advertisement makes it clear that the price applies in certain outlets only.

If you see individual items on a shelf being sold that say that they are part of a multipack and are 'not to be sold separately', this is not a breach of consumer legislation as it is only a recommendation from the manufacturer. However, you could complain to the manufacturer of the goods about the trader, as the trader is not acting in the spirit of the offer made by the manufacturer.