Bait Advertising

[1991_Vn2nV]

Is it just me that is getting sick of this?

Im sick of seeing something good in a catalogue only to walk in when I next get an opportunity to find out that its sold out and most likely wont be back in stock until after the sale is over.

If something sells out when on sale, it should be mandatory for the company to allow orders to be placed (with deposit of course) for that item for the advertised price.

If it says limited stock, or 100 only etc. in the catalogue then so be it... But it never does.

So if I walk in 2 days after the sale started when it still has 10 days left... Am I wrong in believing that they should still have stock?

[vy_storm]

I believe they are obliged to offer a rain check unless the terms of the sale are "while stocks last".

[arrow224]

Or perhaps ring to confirm they have some in stock, and get them to hold one for you?

[DANNY8]

I remember seeing a Repco catalogue a few issue's back that showed a Monza 5" tacho for $99. Our local Repco got 2 of them in lol.

[Julie]

Yeh I hate it, JB hi-fi are the worst, I reckon they probably only ever have one of the sale item to lure people in and an employee has probably bought it before the customer even gets a chance.

[Scooter79]

I posted a thread a little while ago about Repco advertising on TV that they'll beat any competitiors price. I bought some oil, plugs and filters and told the Repco staff that Supercheap and Autobarn had all this stuff cheaper. They refused to match or beat the price because it wasn't in a current supercheap or autobarn sale catalogue, even though their 'shelf' price was always cheaper. I emailed Repco head office the next day and got a return phone call. Telling me that Suprercheap didn't stock this and Autobarn didn't stock that, which was rubbish because what I bought was no different from what I normally get at other stores. I told him it was clearly false advertising and I'll never shop at Repco again.

[Troy711]

I remember seeing a Repco catalogue a few issue's back that showed a Monza 5" tacho for $99. Our local Repco got 2 of them in lol.

they did that a few years ago with blaupunkt DVD screens and players. each store only had one of each in stock and people (including my stupid self) were there a few hours before the doors opened. i missed out, i emailed them and complained and next thing you know i got 100 bucks free vouchers.

[Wacky]

Well, it's not bait advertising for a start, unless they do it, then try to sell you an alternative at a higher price.

It is however against fair trading laws. They must obtain a reasonable amount of stock for any sale item to ensure their is stock for the duration of the sale, otherwise they need to run a correction. I don't believe they have to offer a raincheck, but most do, just to be nice.

Unfortunately, on a couple of occasions with KMart and BigW, I have warned the managers that they are breaching fair trading laws, and they don't really care.

For those in NSW:

Bait and switch advertising

Another common form of false advertising is bait and switch. This is when a trader advertises a bargain price on an item to attract consumers into their shop. When they arrive, consumers find that the discounted item is sold out and instead the consumer is offered a different, more expensive item. When a trader advertises goods at discounted price, they must supply the goods at that price for a reasonable period of time. It is illegal to bait and switch and offenders can be prosecuted under the Fair Trading Act.

Of course, the store may well have run out of the item due to heavy demands. The period of the offer should be made clear in the advertisement. If it is only available for a limited period or stocks are limited, then that fact should be stated clearly in the advertisement. If consumers feel an advertised sale was a gimmick, ask to see the manager, and discuss the problem. If indeed the offer was genuine, the management may offer to get in the item wanted and charge the sale price - this is called a raincheck. Be aware that rainchecks are not compulsory under the Fair Trading Act.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Well, it's not bait advertising for a start, unless they do it, then try to sell you an alternative at a higher price.

It is however against fair trading laws. They must obtain a reasonable amount of stock for any sale item to ensure their is stock for the duration of the sale, otherwise they need to run a correction. I don't believe they have to offer a raincheck, but most do, just to be nice.

Unfortunately, on a couple of occasions with KMart and BigW, I have warned the managers that they are breaching fair trading laws, and they don't really care.

For those in NSW:

I still see it as bait advertising. In this instance im talking about games, where they have offered a set amount for $40, the rest are slightly discounted (still like $96 etc.). I walk in on the second day of the sale, they are sold out of the $40 games so if I do wish to purchase a game at the store my only option is to fork out for a more expensive item. I've travelled that far for nothing.

This was at Big W, the sale started the 27th of March, they were sold out on the 28th of March when I went in and they still have no stock, when the sale ends on the 10th of April. Thats a 14 day sale and they were sold out after day 1. It does not say "stocks limited" on the catalogue or in their terms and conditions.

The same thing happened 2 weeks ago over an LCD TV but at a different store.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Yeh I hate it, JB hi-fi are the worst, I reckon they probably only ever have one of the sale item to lure people in and an employee has probably bought it before the customer even gets a chance.

Yeah but at JB Hi Fi you can make it up by removing cheap sticker prices off crap dvd's and cd's and putting them on good ones you like so you save $20

[Grennan]

Haha at Christmas last year, Kmart was "selling" Jim Beam bar fridges, they were on sale for 180 or something. Every kmart we went to didnt have them and in most cases hadent even seen them or heard of them.

I went to Kmart 3 weeks ago, they had a lot of Jim Beam bar fridges in stock.

[Just_a_stocker]

ooh this sort of thing is really the pits,
i have had too many beers to elaborate

[Wacky]

I still see it as bait advertising. In this instance im talking about games, where they have offered a set amount for $40, the rest are slightly discounted (still like $96 etc.). I walk in on the second day of the sale, they are sold out of the $40 games so if I do wish to purchase a game at the store my only option is to fork out for a more expensive item. I've travelled that far for nothing.

This was at Big W, the sale started the 27th of March, they were sold out on the 28th of March when I went in and they still have no stock, when the sale ends on the 10th of April. Thats a 14 day sale and they were sold out after day 1. It does not say "stocks limited" on the catalogue or in their terms and conditions.

The same thing happened 2 weeks ago over an LCD TV but at a different store.

You are probably right....the bait being to get you into the store, and the 'switch' when trying to sell you another item at a higher price.

Our BigW experience was with DVDs, as they had various CSI boxed sets of various seasons. They sold out of them after 2 days. We checked, and they said they only got 1 copy of each season in. We asked when they were getting more, and they said they weren't. We spoke with the manager, who didn't give a rats.

Our Kmart experience was to do with a chest freezer that was advertised. They only had one, and stock had not come in. They had offered rain checks to people to cover the freezers they were supposed to get (6) and had done so on the first day of the sale. I spoke with the manager ,and made reference to Fair Trading. He told me that previously when they had a sale on these freezers, they had 16, and none had sold, and they ended up sending them to another store that had sold out, and then sold out of theirs.

So, this time, they only ordered a few in, and sent the rest to Penrith. I'd say that Dept of Fair Trading would have an issue with this, as they had used previous sales information to make a fair judgment call on what they would require.

But yeah, it's a waste of fricken time, and you'd expect they'd still have stocks on Day 2 of almost any item, unless it was a damn good deal (but then they should be catering for expected demand on such a deal).

[hakhawk]

So, this time, they only ordered a few in, and sent the rest to Penrith. I'd say that Dept of Fair Trading would have an issue with this, as they had used previous sales information to make a fair judgment call on what they would require.

i see no problem with this. they didnt sell last time, no point having dead stock sitting around the store taking up space and money to have other faster selling items in. if they dont offer a raincheck, then fair trading might care.

shops cant keep everything on the shelf, let alone heaps of it. they need to decide what to keep and what to order in if the need arises, it didnt sell last time, chance are it wont this time, they were wrong, **** happens. more call for it, then they will possibly order more in the next sale.

[v8oz]

Hands down, the worst is from airlines.

[Cobez]

Isn't that the point of a sale? To get rid of the current stock to make way for more? I think they WANT to sell out, so they make their money.

Maybe you should get into the store a bit quicker next time?

[1991_Vn2nV]

Isn't that the point of a sale? To get rid of the current stock to make way for more? I think they WANT to sell out, so they make their money.

Maybe you should get into the store a bit quicker next time?

When it says "while stocks last" or "XXX amount only" then yes that is normally the point.

With other sales the POINT is to get people into the store. And if they're sold out of what they're advertising they're getting people in their to purchase other items that are usually more expensive.

[hakhawk]

When it says "while stocks last" or "XXX amount only" then yes that is normally the point.

With other sales the POINT is to get people into the store. And if they're sold out of what they're advertising they're getting people in their to purchase other items that are usually more expensive.

you dont have to walk out of the shop with the dearer item though?

and you were after specific games, they cant really upsell you to a different game unless you want it. if you were chasing a game controller for it, then maybe, but not a game. worst case is you couldve seen another game you wanted, and bought that instead of waiting.

[Cobez]

Ohhhhhh right, sorry now i get what you are trying to say. I assumed you were talking about a "while stocks last" sale or something.

In your case, then yes, false advertising is rat, and they should just list in the sale advert that is only XXX amount so be quick etc etc.

[1991_Vn2nV]

you dont have to walk out of the shop with the dearer item though?

and you were after specific games, they cant really upsell you to a different game unless you want it. if you were chasing a game controller for it, then maybe, but not a game. worst case is you couldve seen another game you wanted, and bought that instead of waiting.

Yeah but they had no games for that price, not just the ones I was after.

I emailed them in the end, and they emailed back saying "Our records show we ran out of stock at those stores on the first day, however we ordered twice our weeks sales of those games for the sale bla bla bla".

Which means in a 14 day sale, they sold out on the first day. It also means they ordered a normal 2 weeks worth of games... For a 2 week sale. So they didn't actually order any more than they would normally sell when the games are selling at over a 50% discount. So they didn't anticipate selling more than normal when they are $40 instead of $99?

[Wacky]

i see no problem with this. they didnt sell last time, no point having dead stock sitting around the store taking up space and money to have other faster selling items in. if they dont offer a raincheck, then fair trading might care.

Sorry, my bad typo, I agree with you. I meant to say Dept fo Fair trading would have no issue blah blah blah...

[Fekason]

Over the years, I have had issue with a particular store (not Walmart), and their use of bait advertising.

I was once in the store as it closed the evening before a new catalogue became current. There was a pallet load of an item on the floor, but I watched through the closed door as they removed that pallet. Lo and behold, only a couple in stock the next day and no more for the duration of the catalogue.

Armed with this knowledge, I once went shopping for a bicycle for one of my sons. Shock horror, they had no stock of the bike in the catalogue. However, they had one of them on display. I said that I would take that one, but they said that they could not sell it to me for liability reasons - as they might be liable because they assembled it. I pushed to no avail, but they asked me to come back on the last day of the catalogue as they might have more in by then.

On the morning in question, still no stock, but come back just before closing. Not willing to give in, I came back as advised. "Sorry, none came in."

I got "cranky". I demanded the bike on display, but they stood firm. I demanded to see the manager so I could complain about the run around that they had given me. The salesman went off to find the manager.

By this time, the store had closed. Anyhow, the manager did not turn up. The salesman arrived back with a brand new bike still in the carton, which he "surprisingly" found out back while looking for the manager.

I have repeated this process for a second bike, but only by doing it as the shop closed at the end of the catalogue period. Same outcome.

In both cases, they had stock out back. However, they were not supposed to sell anymore, and only sold me the item for the catalogue price when no other customer could take advantage of my "win".

I don't shop there very much.

[Wacky]

What were the trying to do? Not sell at the catalogue price because they wouldn't make as much money?

Re the display item, no, they won't sell it for liability reasons as they stated. They weren't trying to be difficult. (a) there is the fact that they assembled it, and (b) they don't know how it's been treated whilst being a display item. For all they know, some fat bastard like me might have jumped on it, weakening the frame. If htey sold it, and it fell apart, it could be very bad.

[stocky]

What were the trying to do? Not sell at the catalogue price because they wouldn't make as much money?

Re the display item, no, they won't sell it for liability reasons as they stated. They weren't trying to be difficult. (a) there is the fact that they assembled it, and (b) they don't know how it's been treated whilst being a display item. For all they know, some fat bastard like me might have jumped on it, weakening the frame. If htey sold it, and it fell apart, it could be very bad.

sounds like its a story copied from some american website (guessing from the walmart reference) so i dont think it actually happened to him personally

[Grennan]

Not really bait advertising but something pretty funny nontheless.

I have a Safeway/Woolworths discount card, on Saturdays i get a 15% discount of anything in store at Big W. Went to buy my Xbox 360. First rang to confirm i could use this card on the XBox and they replied "Yes, if you can find one"

Go down to the store, Every Xbox 360 was "Sold Out"

Go in 2 days later, that had Xbox 360 boxes comming out their arse.