Ok i've found out what was wrong:

in functions/function_prices.php

i went to line 41

PHP Code:
// return special price only
    
if ($specials_price_only==true) {
      if (
zen_not_null($special_price)) {
        return 
$special_price;
      } else {
        return 
false;
      } 
and changed line 44 to:

PHP Code:
 $show_display_price '';
    
$display_normal_price zen_get_products_base_price($products_id);
    
$display_special_price zen_get_products_special_price($products_idfalse);
    
$display_sale_price zen_get_products_special_price($products_idtrue); 
this sorted out the special price issue and didnt knock salemaker so all is good now.

Andy.