Bunnings pleads not guilty on 45 charges of false and misleading advertising

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Bunnings has pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to the 45 charges of false and misleading advertising filed against it by the Commerce Commission.

The consumer watchdog brought the charges alleging that Bunnings' tagline promise of 'lowest prices' was misleading to customers because this was not necessarily the case.

Allegations by the commission relate to advertising between June 2014 and February 2016.

The case will be heard at the Auckland District Court on May 17.

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Each of the 45 offences has a maximum fine of $600,000, potentially totaling $27 million.

Some of the slogans found in Bunnings' ads the commission found to be 'false and misleading' during this time period include, 'We've got the widest range and the lowest prices', 'Everything is at the lowest price guaranteed', 'Bunnings has the lowest price on everything you need', and 'Lowest prices are just the beginning'.

Bunnings operates 46 stores around the country with about 3700 staff.

Last month Nurofen was fined more than $1m for falsely advertising their products as specifically targeting migraines, tension headaches, period pain and back pain.