Ticketek and Ticketmaster fleece fans, Virgin pockets $75 million in unused flight credits, and a washer-dryer that takes 25 hours: CHOICE Shonky Awards 2026
CHOICE has announced the winners of their 21st annual Shonky Awards, revealing some of the worst products and services of 2026.
“At a time when most consumers are doing it tough, you’d think that companies might give us all a break. Unfortunately, consumers continue to be treated badly by businesses across Australia, so there was no shortage of contenders for this year’s Shonky Awards,” says Perry.
“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,” says Perry.
“We were also shocked by a Petcover insurance policy that reduces cover every time you make a claim, poor-value protein chips by Quest that cost nearly 900% more than regular chips, and a Hisense washer-dryer that achieves an impressive energy rating, but only if you’re willing to wait 25 hours for it to run its ‘eco’ wash and dry cycles,” says Perry.
The 2026 CHOICE Shonkys are:
- Ticketek and Ticketmaster – for fleecing fans with tricky ticket tactics
- Virgin Australia – for pocketing $75 million in expired flight credits
- Hisense – for a washer-dryer that takes 25 hours
- Petcover – for a policy that’s all bark, little benefit
- Quest Protein Chips – for chips that’ll get you ripped (off)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment – for asking us to pay to play, but not own
Ticketek and Ticketmaster – for fleecing fans with tricky ticket tactics
“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,” says Perry.
“Earlier this year, John Farnham fans who logged onto Ticketek looking to secure tickets to a tribute concert found themselves facing inflated prices of up to $1,650. Similarly, NRL supporters who purchased tickets to some matches in 2026 through Ticketmaster reported ‘In Demand’ seats selling for $50 more than a regular seat just one row and one bay apart,” says Perry.
“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,” says Perry.
Virgin Australia – for pocketing $75 million in expired flight credits
“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. 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,” says Perry.
“Customers were forced into booking trips by 30 June 2026, with a deadline for actually taking the flights by 27 May 2027. Customers who didn’t successfully scramble to book a flight in time lost their money to Virgin’s revenue. 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,” says Perry.
Hisense – for a washer-dryer that takes 25 hours
“Hisense is receiving a Shonky Award this year for gaming a broken system with a ‘super energy-efficient’ washer-dryer. 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,” says Perry.
“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. The Hisense machine also received its 5-star energy rating for washing based on – you guessed it – a 728-minute-long program. Use both the energy-efficient cycles together, and you’ll be hitting over 25 hours of laundry,” says Perry.
Petcover – for a policy that’s all bark, little benefit
“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. 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,” says Perry.
“Every 12 months, Petcover Economy customers are sold an entirely new policy, which classifies all conditions the pet has previously experienced as pre-existing, thus excluding them from cover. 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. This is a policy that reduces cover every time you make a claim,” says Perry.
Quest Protein Chips – for chips that’ll get you ripped (off)
“We’re giving Quest Protein Chips a Shonky Award this year for chips that might help you get ripped, but also ripped off. These chips are 886% 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,” says Perry.
Sony Interactive Entertainment – for asking us to pay to play, but not own
“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. Sony recently announced that from January 2028, all new PlayStation games will be digital-only. 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,” says Perry.
“The problems with this kind of licensing arrangement became very apparent in June, when Sony announced its licensing agreement with Studio Canal was coming to an end in 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,” says Perry.
