{
  "id": 7247746,
  "title": "'Online discounts not necessarily make things cheaper'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/online-discounts-not-necessarily-make-things-cheaper",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T04:48:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK English",
    "slug": "rthk-english",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1869934-20260914.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Consumer Council has advised shoppers to consider the unit price of products when making online purchases, rather than just the promotional offers advertised. The council examined the prices of 222 items from three large supermarkets between September last year and July, and discovered that some products were more expensive during bulk-buy promotions. For example, a 410mL bottle of steamed fish soy sauce, which typically costs HK$13, averaged HK$10.95 in a buy-one-get-one-free deal, a discount of about 16 percent – far less than the 50 percent reduction consumers might expect. The council warned that buyers might believe larger pack sizes always offer better value, but this is not always true. In some cases, bigger packs can even cost up to 35 percent more than smaller ones. Consumer Council chief executive Alaina Shum emphasized the need for supermarkets to be more transparent, suggesting they should display unit prices both online and in-store. She also noted that other online retailers in the UK and Australia have made unit prices available, allowing consumers to make more informed decisions. The watchdog recommended that consumers should not solely focus on sale prices and discounts, but instead calculate the unit price and compare the cost with and without the promotion discounts. The Consumer Council recently launched a dedicated mobile app to help buyers quickly compare prices across about 2,800 products from nine online supermarkets, personal care stores, cosmetics retailers, and pharmacies. The app's purpose is to help consumers easily determine the unit price and track significant price reductions, making the process more efficient.",
  "summary": "The Consumer Council on Monday called on the public to calculate the unit price of products and look at price trends to find the best value for money when making purchases online, instead of solely considering promotional offers. It analysed the prices of 222 products across three major supermarket chains online between September last year and July, and found that some products cost even more…",
  "key_points": [
    "Shoppers advised to consider unit price, not just promotions",
    "Bulk-buy deals may not always offer 50% savings",
    "Consumer Council urges supermarkets to display unit prices"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Shoppers must look beyond promotional offers and calculate unit prices to ensure they get the best value, as bulk-buy deals and discounts do not always translate to cheaper products.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK News",
        "title": "'Online discounts not necessarily make things cheaper'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/online-discounts-not-necessarily-make-things-cheaper-7248266",
        "published": "2026-09-14T04:48:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}