SHOPPERS could be disappointed with the bargains they bought during the recent sales, say West Yorkshire Trading Standards.
The service carried out spot checks at shops across West Yorkshire during the Christmas and new year sales.
They found that not all the bargains were as good as they first seemed.
Chief officer Graham Hebblethwaite said: "Shoppers must be wary.
"This project shows that bargain- hunters should take most claims of big price reductions with a pinch of salt."
Officials targeted stores selling clothing, footwear, household goods, furniture and gifts.
They visited more than 60 shops and found that some were claiming items were reduced in price when they had never been on sale at the higher recommended retail price.
The officials also found that some labels and signs were so confusing that customers could not work out whether they were making a genuine saving.
One manager admitted that prices had been increased a few days before a sale, so that goods could be reduced to their original price and customers would believe they were saving money.
One shop admitted that the pre-sale price they advertised had not been charged in the UK but had been in Spain.
Officers also found that sale signs stating `today only' were on display - even though the sales would last for longer.
Mr Hebblethwaite said pricing laws require shops to display prices for all goods.
The law also says the prices must not be misleading - such as claiming falsely that goods have been reduced.
Mr Hebblethwaite said his officers were taking up the problems with the companies concerned.
He added: "Many offers are misleading or simply not true.
"My advice is for customers to carefully consider whether the price they are asked to pay represents good value and to ignore the supposed savings."
Anyone who has a complaint about a misleading price should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
