It's no secret that the retail industry has been through a bruising few years.

As consumers tightened their belts and batten down the hatches to survive in this turbulent economy, retailers felt the pinch.

Many big name retailers like Blockbuster and Borders have gone under in a fight for marketshare, and even more are closing stores in record numbers, including major names like Abercrombie & Fitch, Rite Aid, and Foot Locker.

Retailers are pulling out all the stops to get you into their stores and get the most money out of your wallet while you are there. So it's more important than ever to be on guard to protect yourself from the common retail rip-offs and sneaky tricks.

Here are nine retail ripoffs you need to know about...