A woman shopping in Primark, the international outlet of Penneys, claims she was left "choking" at the checkout when she saw the price of one t-shirt and a packet of socks.
Hope Lovina took to social media to share her disbelief after forking out £19.50 (€22.55) at the budget retailer.
When scanning the shop, the 21-year-old believed the shirt alone would cost £8 (€9.25) - but realised after checking the receipt it was priced double that, at £16 (€18.50).
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Taking to TikTok, @hopelovina1 complained about the prices as other shoppers flocked to the comments, also claiming they noticed rising prices at Primark/Penneys.
Hope said: "Guys I was just in Primark because I needed to buy a shirt for work. So it's this shirt that I'm wearing now and when I originally looked at the price it said £8 (€9.25). Already I was choking, I was thinking £8 (€9.25), I thought this was Primark. What happened?
"I went to the till and I was prepared to spend the £8 (€9.25) on the shirt and I bought socks as well, and aren't socks so adorable? They're like bare, multicoloured, Anyway I bought socks as well and the socks are £3.50 (€4.05).
"So altogether in my head, I didn't know the exact price it was going to be because I didn't want to do the maths but I knew it was going to be around 11, 12 pounds - like somewhere around there."
It was only when the checkout till displayed the price that reality set in.
She continued: "The woman started scanning the top and the socks, why did my eyes read £20 (€23.13) on the card machine?"
"Altogether the socks and the top were £20 (€23.13), I choked so hard. I said what? Because I don't want to look like a broke *****, I just took out my Apple Pay, I scanned it.
"So I was getting my Apple Pay up, the cashier is right there, once the phone went to my face, so I can put my face ID on, a tear was formulating in my eye. But I had to dry it away quickly when the phone went away from my face, I don't want her to think I'm broke."
After realising the actual price on the tag, Hope said: "It was £16 (€18.50) guys. I spent £16 (€18.50) on not two, not three, not four, but one singular shirt. I might return this tomorrow and get a cheaper one."
TikTok users took to the comments to discuss the fashion retailer's prices, with one person saying: "I went to Primark and bought about four things when the till operator said £52 (€60.13). I was like eh?"
A second person said: "Tell me this is a joke please. Hope, why am I seeing £16 (€18.50) on the tag? I would have taken it back."
Someone else wrote: "This is why you go charity shops these days."
A Primark spokesperson told the Daily Record: “We work hard to offer the very best value on the high street, something we know is more important than ever right now to our customers.
"The white shirt is a wardrobe staple and that’s why we offer a range of options to suit different occasions and budgets – from our classic white shirt which retails at £7 (€8.09), to our linen-mix white shirt which retails at £16 (€18.50)."
According to the Penneys Ireland website, they currently offer a Woman's Slim Fit Button-Down Shirt for €8, a Woman's Cropped Boxy Poplin Shirt for €15 as well as The Edit Long Sleeve Linen Shirt for €22.
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