THINK you’re getting what you pay for at the supermarket till or online check-out?

Chances are you’re probably not, and are among the millions of hardworking Aussies unwittingly paying more than you have to for a product or service.

According to leading consumer organisation Choice, we are not just paying more in the supermarket but more for our digital products and online shopping too.

Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said consumers unwittingly got sucked into paying more for products than they should and many may not even realise it.

But he said the trick was knowing how to avoid it.

Here are the biggest rip-offs according to Choice.

1. Free range eggs:

Choice said a 2012 survey found buying free range was considered essential for about 60 per cent of consumers, and important for a further 25 per cent.

But it said that the lack of an official national standard for free range eggs meant the label on the carton could have any number of meanings depending on the producer.

“Without an official standard for free range products, consumers are at real risk of being misled by businesses wanting to cash in on the premium that a free range product attracts,” Choice warns.

Mr Godfrey said consumers shouldn’t pay a premium for dodgy free range claims.

“Look for the stocking density on pack and make sure it meets the national model code of 1500 birds per hectare,” he said.

2. Australia Tax on digital content:

According to Chocie, Aussies pay 33 per cent more than US consumers for the top 10 new release movies in Apple’s iTunes store.

But Mr Godfrey reckons there’s an easier way of making sure you get the product you’re paying for.

“To access and pay for timely and affordable digital content, navigate the geo-blocks using a VPN,” he said.

“A virtual private network allows you to appear as though you are an internet user from another country.

“It prevents websites from automatically detecting you are Australian and presenting you with higher prices.”

3. Australia Tax on fashion:

A Choice review of some popular clothing items has found Australians are paying up to 60 per cent more than US consumers for exactly the same products.

These included jeans and other clothing from popular overseas brands including Uniqlo and North Face.

But Mr Godfrey insisted it’s easy to get around this snag if consumers again used a VPN. He said using a VPN to access websites of major international clothing retailers would help shoppers avoid what is known as “the Australia Tax.”

4. Excessive credit card surcharges:

It’s no secret many of us get hit with this one, and most of us will admit to seeing this charge on our statements at various times.

In fact, according to Choice, in the past 12 months Australians have paid $800 million in credit card surcharges alone. Ouch.

Mr Godfrey said there was one easy way to get around this.

“Avoid excessive credit card surcharges by requesting a fee free payment method,” he said.

5. Credit card late payment fees:

This is another area where consumers are often hit where it hurts, but according to Choice is another big rip off.

It said a class action launched this month by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers will benefit millions of Australians if successful.

The case follows on from the firm’s success earlier this year when the Federal Court ruled that ANZ’s late credit card fees were unlawful because they were a penalty rather than a legitimate cost for the bank.

The court found banks charged up to $20 or more for late payments but the court in the ANZ case found the actual cost of administering the late payment was “more like 35 cents”. And it’s easy to get around too.

“Avoid dodgy credit card late fees by paying at least the minimum amount by the due date. If you can’t pay your credit card off in full each month look to switch to a low interest rate credit card,” Mr Godfrey said.

6. Gluten free mark up:

According to Choice, this is another big rip off, particularly if people were eating this for health rather than necessity.

It found many of the products on supermarket shelves were not only more expensive but less healthy.

It warned consumers that some products were also more expensive only because they’re grouped with other gluten-free products.

Mr Godfrey said unless there was a valid health reason for avoiding gluten, shoppers were throwing their money away.

“Don’t get sucked in by the ‘gluten free’ health halo,” he said.

“If you don’t have a gluten intolerance it pays to avoid “gluten free”.

Mr Godfrey said the rip offs were a great example of how consumers could call businesses out for unfair products and practices.

The Choice Shonky Awards name and shame Australia’s worst products and services in a bid to get businesses to lift their game.

“If you believe a company is being sneaky, slippery, unscrupulous and even unsafe, we want to hear from you,” he said.

To receive an award a product had to meet one or more of several criteria including consumer confusion, poor value for money and false claims or broken promises.