Online Retailers Courts, Prism+ Cited for Unfair Trade Practices
- tech360.tv
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has taken Courts and Prism+ to task over unfair practices. The consumer watchdog stated the electronics and home appliance retailers used misleading website design features.
CCS found that Courts automatically added unsolicited items to consumer shopping carts. Separately, Prism+ used fake countdown timers and misleading stock indicators to pressure consumers into purchases.
Both retailers have since given an undertaking to CCS not to engage in unfair trade practices.
Courts was found to have charged consumers for products they never selected. In one complaint, an Acer vacuum cleaner was added to a checkout cart after a consumer selected an Apple iPad.
This practice puts consumers at risk of unknowingly paying for unsolicited items if they fail to notice and remove such items before checkout. According to CCS, Courts had received similar complaints since 2024 but took no action until the commission intervened in June 2025.
Courts has committed to immediately stop this practice. In addition to making changes to its website, Courts also agreed to refund customers affected by this unfair trade practice.
Homegrown electronics retailer Prism+ was found to have created false urgency for consumers. This pressured consumers into hasty purchases.
Prism+ included problematic features such as a fake countdown timer, misleading stock indicators, unsubstantiated shortage claims, and inflated discounts. Investigations showed countdown timers served no technical function and were not linked to inventory systems.
The "In stock: running low" display appeared even when monthly sales for a product represented only 7% of Prism+'s total available stock. Prism+ explained the indicator applied to products with inventory levels above 100 units, a threshold not disclosed to consumers.
The retailer could not substantiate claims of "supply chain disruption" affecting other brands. Prism+ stated these were made in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Investigations also revealed that discount claims of "up to 67% off" could not be achieved for ten products. Prism+ attributed this to "technical errors."
Prism+ has since rectified the issues and provided an undertaking not to engage in unfair trade practices.
The commission advised consumers to review shopping carts for unexpected items. Consumers should also verify payment amounts match their intended purchases and question urgency claims before making impulse purchases.
CCS warned businesses that charging for unsolicited products or making false claims to pressure purchases constitutes an unfair trade practice. Businesses must ensure consumers agree to purchases and clearly disclose the price and nature of any add-on before checkout.
All statements made about products should be truthful and factually accurate.
Courts added unsolicited items to consumer shopping carts, risking unwanted purchases.
Prism+ created false urgency with fake countdown timers and misleading stock indicators.
Both retailers have committed to ceasing these unfair practices and making necessary rectifications.
Source: ASIA ONE