A “40% off” banner is easy to compare across two websites; the amount on the final payment screen is harder, and it is the number that matters. During the 2026 year-end sales, compare that final total, not the headline discount. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) expects mandatory fees to be included in the headline price, pre-ticked add-ons to be avoided or clearly disclosed, and discounts to be measured against a genuine previous price. A price log started now gives you your own baseline.
The big dates this year are 11.11 on Wednesday 11 November, Black Friday on 27 November and 12.12 on Saturday 12 December. Individual retailers set their own sale periods and terms, so treat those dates as reminders rather than deadlines.
What do the CCCS guidelines expect?
CCCS’s Guidelines on Price Transparency took effect on 1 November 2020 and apply to online and physical stores. They set out how CCCS interprets the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act for price displays:
- Drip pricing: unavoidable or mandatory fees and charges, such as taxes and surcharges, should be included in the total headline price.
- Pre-ticked boxes: as good practice, businesses should avoid pre-ticked boxes that automatically add extras. Where they are used, the extras must be disclosed clearly and prominently, and CCCS encourages an opt-in approach.
- Discounts and comparisons: a “was” or “usual” price used to show a saving should be a genuine previous price.
The guidelines also cover the use of the word “free”. They describe what CCCS expects of businesses; they do not guarantee that every listing follows them, so your own checks still matter.
Start a price log before 11.11
Shoppers cannot see a seller’s price history, which is why a dated record of your own is useful. Between now and early November:
- Choose three to five items you already intend to buy, and note the exact model and variant.
- Screenshot each product page with the date, price, seller and delivery terms visible.
- Repeat weekly, and again on the sale day.
When the sale arrives, compare the offer with your log rather than with the crossed-out price. A published case shows why. In CCCS’s case on OSIM’s product information and pricing, the commission found that none of the “usual prices” shown for several OSIM products between 1 January 2022 and 14 May 2023 had actually been offered to consumers during that period. OSIM has since made changes, including ensuring that its promotions reflect actual discounts.
Compare at the final screen
Here is an illustrative comparison, using invented prices for the same air purifier from two sellers:
- Seller A: S$349, marked “was S$599”, plus S$19 delivery and a pre-ticked two-year protection plan at S$39. Total if you pay without changing anything: S$407.
- Seller B: S$379 with delivery included and no add-ons. Total: S$379.
The headline suggests Seller A is S$30 cheaper. At the final screen, B is S$28 cheaper unless you untick the plan, and even then A saves only S$11. Before paying for a plan, check what it adds to the manufacturer’s warranty and your rights under the Lemon Law, which our after-purchase action plan explains.
Compare like with like: the same model, delivery speed, payment method and bundle. If an instalment plan or a particular card changes the price, write down its conditions before you decide.
Do countdown timers mean the price is good?
No. Urgency displays are claims too. In CCCS’s case on features of Agoda’s website, the commission raised concerns over how search-result rankings, badges and countdown timers could mislead consumers; Agoda gave an undertaking and changed its website and app. In a Parliamentary reply on livestream selling and unfair practices, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said that false or misleading representations and undue pressure are unfair practices under the fair trading law, including in livestream sales.
That does not make every timer false. It means a timer is not evidence of a good price. Set your own deadline, the date by which you will decide using your log, and let the sale meet it or not.
If the price was not what it seemed
Save the screenshots, order confirmation and any chat messages, as our checkout records guide suggests, and raise the issue with the seller first. CASE’s complaints and advice service offers free advice to consumers in disputes with Singapore businesses.
Common questions
Can a seller add compulsory fees at checkout?
CCCS’s Guidelines on Price Transparency say unavoidable or mandatory fees and charges, such as taxes and surcharges, should be included in the total headline price. Charges linked to choices you make, such as faster delivery, still need checking at the final screen.
Are pre-ticked add-ons allowed at checkout?
CCCS says businesses should, as good practice, avoid pre-ticked boxes for add-ons, and must disclose them clearly and prominently if they use them. Untick anything you did not choose before paying.
How can I tell whether a “was” price is genuine?
CCCS expects discounts to be measured against a genuine previous price, but shoppers cannot see a seller’s full price history. Dated screenshots taken before the sale give you your own baseline.
When are the big year-end sale dates in 2026?
11.11 falls on Wednesday 11 November, Black Friday on Friday 27 November and 12.12 on Saturday 12 December. Individual retailers set their own sale periods and terms.
Sources
- CCCS’s Guidelines on Price Transparency cccs.gov.sg
- CCCS’s case on OSIM’s product information and pricing cccs.gov.sg
- CCCS’s case on features of Agoda’s website cccs.gov.sg
- Parliamentary reply on livestream selling and unfair practices mti.gov.sg
- CASE’s complaints and advice service case.org.sg
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