Supermarkets have been found to be ringing up products at prices slightly higher than those listed on the shelf labels to trick careless consumers, warns the consumer council of Dongguan.

In a typical case reported to the council, a shopper surnamed Zhou noticed that the price of a towel was 2 yuan (24 US cents) higher on the register display than the price listed on the shelf.

When Zhou pointed out the discrepancy, he was told it was a "computer glitch".

Mistakes made while updating prices in the computer system are also often used as an excuse for the secret mark-up, said officials with the consumers' council.

Consumers have been urged to complain to discourage dishonest retailing practices.

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