Choice Shonky Awards: The pricey $6.50 snack and painstakingly slow appliance the consumer group has called out

A bag of protein chips priced like fine dining and a laundry appliance that takes more than an entire day to run have been called out in consumer advocate Choice’s 21st annual Shonky Awards, which name and shame the products and services deemed the worst of the year.

The awards come during a persistent cost-of-living squeeze across the country, leaving the watchdog frustrated by commercial practices.

“At a time when most consumers are doing it tough, you’d think that companies might give us all a break,” Perry said.

“Unfortunately, consumers continue to be treated badly by businesses across Australia, so there was no shortage of contenders for this year's Shonky Awards.

“This year, we’ve seen Ticketek and Ticketmaster fleecing fans, sending ticket prices soaring; Virgin pocketing $75 million in customers’ unused flight credits; and Sony asking us to pay to play, but not own.”

Quest Protein Chips

Fitness-focused snackers were singled out as major targets of commercial gouging, with Quest Protein Chips taking out a Shonky for charging nearly 900 per cent more than regular chips.

“We’re giving Quest Protein Chips a Shonky Award this year for chips that might help you get ripped, but also ripped off,” said Choice CEO Ashley Perry.

“These chips are 886 per cent more expensive than a similar, non-protein version of chips from a different brand.

“A pack of Nacho Cheese Flavour Doritos costs just $2.06 per 100g, compared to the more than $20 per 100g you’ll pay for the Quest Nacho Cheese Protein Chips.

“Sure, you get more protein, but there are much cheaper (and simpler) ways to fuel your gains.”

Quest has been contacted for comment.

Hisense HCF8I1215HB washer-dryer

Household appliances fared no better, with the Hisense HCF8I1215HB washer-dryer awarded a Shonky for gaming energy standards by dragging cycles out to an excruciating 25 hours.

“Hisense is receiving a Shonky Award this year for gaming a broken system with a ‘super energy-efficient’ washer-dryer,” Perry said.

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“The catch is the machine (the Hisense HCF8I1215HB washer-dryer) actually takes 13.5 hours to dry your clothes on the Eco setting, the program nominated by Hisense to qualify for its 8-star energy rating for drying.

“That’s right – manufacturers get to nominate their own program, and it’s usually one that produces the best energy-efficiency outcome, rather than one households would actually use.”

Perry noted that the machine's 5-star energy rating for washing was also based on an impractical 728-minute program.

“While technically the machine is energy-efficient when run on the Eco drying cycle, it goes without saying that over 13 hours to dry a load of clothes is an unrealistic wait time for most households,” she explained.

“Use both the energy-efficient cycles together, and you’ll be hitting over 25 hours of laundry.”

A spokesperson for Hisense told nine.com.au: “The energy rating displayed on our product is determined in accordance with the Australian Government’s regulated Energy Rating Scheme and the applicable Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) requirements. Energy ratings are calculated using prescribed Australian testing standards, established performance criteria and defined assessment methodologies. 

“We recognise that Australian households have diverse needs and priorities when choosing home appliances. Our product range is designed to offer consumers choice across a range of features and performance characteristics.

“We understand that some customers prioritise energy efficiency and lower running costs, choosing to run cycles overnight taking advantage of off-peak discounted electricity prices, while others may place greater importance on factors such as speed and capacity.

Ticketek and Ticketmaster

Live entertainment giants Ticketek and Ticketmaster shared a Shonky for pushing event tickets to unprecedented heights through dynamic pricing and "in demand" categories.

“Ticketek and Ticketmaster are receiving a Shonky Award this year for gouging consumers during a cost-of-living crisis. Both companies have used a number of sneaky tactics, like dynamic pricing or ‘in demand’ tickets, to push ticket prices for live events to ridiculous new heights,” Perry said.

Citing specific instances, Perry highlighted that earlier in the year, John Farnham fans logging on to Ticketek for a tribute concert faced inflated prices of up to $1650, while NRL fans on Ticketmaster reported paying $50 more for “In Demand” seats located just one row and one bay away from standard seating.

“Time and time again, Ticketek and Ticketmaster have used sneaky tactics such as dynamic pricing or higher-cost ‘in demand’ tickets, concealing ticket prices ahead of sale and strict time limits to take advantage of fans desperately wanting to secure a spot. We think that’s pretty shonky,” Perry said.

Both Ticketek and Ticketmaster have denied Choice’s claim.

Nine.com.au has been told on behalf of Ticketek, on the John Farnham Tribute, the “ultimate” tier was the most premium ticket available at $1650 and dynamic pricing was not applied to this ticket category, and that pricing did not change for that ticket for this event.

A spokesperson for Ticketmaster said prices were set by event organisers, and that it did not use surge pricing.

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia took out an award after letting $75 million in customer flight credits expire directly into its revenue stream.

“Between April 2020 and July 2022, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Virgin Australia cancelled a number of flights, holding about $93 million in unused flight credits as of February this year,” Perry said.

“While some of these customers were able to redeem their flight credits, Virgin’s strict flight credit deadlines meant $75 million of these credits expired, going straight to Virgin’s revenue.”

Perry slammed the airline’s restrictive timelines, which forced travellers to book trips by June 30 and complete travel by May 27 next year.

“Customers who didn’t successfully scramble to book a flight in time lost their money to Virgin’s revenue,” Perry said.

“A business not providing a refund for a service it failed to deliver, and then pocketing the money? Virgin Australia is certainly deserving of the Shonky Award it is receiving this year.”

A spokesperson for Virgin Australia told nine.com.au: “More than 93 per cent of COVID credits were redeemed by guests, supported by strong bookings over the past four years.

“Following a number of extensions between 2023 and 2025, we regularly communicated the expiry date and later extended the fly-by date to 27 May 2027, giving guests almost another year to travel.”

Petcover

In the insurance sector, Petcover’s economy policy was singled out for progressively stripping coverage away from sick pets every year.

“When we gave the entire pet insurance industry a Shonky Award in 2019, our main gripe was the way pet insurers covered (or didn’t) pre-existing conditions,” Perry said.

“At the time, if you wanted to switch insurers, it’d be almost impossible to find a new insurer to cover any of your pet’s pre-existing conditions. One policy from insurer Petcover has taken this issue to a whole new level.”

Under Petcover's structure, policyholders are issued a brand-new policy every 12 months that reclassifies any condition previously experienced as an excluded pre-existing condition.

“The policy’s definition of pre-existing conditions is also problematic, and one of the broadest we’ve seen, including any condition with the same clinical signs as another injury or illness,” Perry said.

“This is a policy that reduces cover every time you make a claim.”

Petcover has been contacted for comment.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sony rounded out the list for eroding digital ownership rights as it pivots towards an all-digital console future.

“Sony is receiving a Shonky Award in 2026 for revealing to their customers that even when they pay for movies and games as a digital download, they don’t actually own them,” Perry said, pointing to Sony's announcement that all new PlayStation games will be digital-only from January 2028.

“Now, this wouldn’t be too much of an issue if customers actually owned digital content purchased from Sony.

“The reality is, however, you’re only buying a licence to access the content via Sony’s digital storefronts – a licence which can be ended at any time, without a refund.”

Perry noted that this licensing structure exposed buyers to sudden losses, as demonstrated in June when Sony's agreement with Studio Canal expired across the UK and Europe.

“This resulted in 500 movies paid for and stored in customer’s digital libraries being removed, without any kind of refund, of course,” Perry said.

Sony has been contacted for comment.