BARGAINS in the Boxing Day sales are not always what they seem with discounted products selling for as much as $220 more than the same item across town.   

Some so-called specials are even cheaper at stores where they're not on sale at all, the Herald Sun reported.

Prices can also differ at different outlets of the same chain.

A Public Defender post-Christmas investigation at Chadstone, Highpoint and Southland shopping centres has found bargain hunters can pay dearly if they fail to shop around.   

The price of a big-screen Sony LCD television yielded the biggest difference.

It cost just $578 at Harvey Norman Chadstone while Big W offered it at the retail price of $798.

Harvey Norman Maribyrnong was $20 dearer than its counterpart on the other side of the city.   

Shoppers could save almost $30 if they shopped around for a 20-piece dinner set even though the dearest outlet surveyed was selling it at 30 per cent off.

Similar legwork saved about $20 off an iron, which Kmart had cheaper than some rivals even though it wasn't even on special.

Savingsguide.com.au founder Alex Wilson said shoppers could find themselves paying too much if they failed to check whether a deal was the bargain it claimed to be. Online comparison sites could help cut the groundwork. "It's a few minutes of your time to organise yourself to potentially save hundreds of dollars," Mr Wilson said.

"It's all about planning your shopping."   

Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just said it was easy to get carried away with the Boxing Day sales frenzy. 

She warned retailers could also promote the highest price of a product before it was marked down rather than the cost immediately before it was discounted.

"Go in with your eyes wide open," Ms Just said.

"There is that group mentality that can happen. It just points to shopping around, whether it is a sale or not."
Comments on this story

    Rainer of Woodville Posted at 3:18 PM Today

        In reply to Richard" There isn't much to uncover. Many know or should at least know that prices are deliberately inflated and then a large 30% or so percentage is reduced. Total deception. In the end; Look at the price and if you know your Product then you know if you are paying too much. Do your research first.   

    Time Traveller of Gold Coast Posted at 2:36 PM Today

        I can agree, I live nest to a discount shopping mall and just for fun went on boxing day to meet a friend, the prices were not any cheaper than they are normally, some were more expensive than usual. In fact most restaurants had a "special menu", which for a regular like me was noticably more expensive than regular days. Out of 120 shops there were about very few hat seemed to have genuine discounts cheaper than the normal discounted price. I like K-Mart who doesn't do sales, but has constantly and consistent cheap pricing all year around.   


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/money/bargain-hunters-pay-dearly-at-boxing-day-sales/story-e6frfmci-1226231488679#ixzz1hoGo5FTy

Now that most people have gone out and got their bargains, what happens now?.  Does that mean prices go back up?.  Yes its all very well to have a sale or two, but now what?.  Now if retailers are smart, they shouldn't put prices up to much.  After all they want the customers.  Anyway it all up to them.