Selling goods that are 'unavailable'
Discussion
If a company offers an item for sale at a good discounted price making it very attractive to buyers but they don't actually have any stock to sell, then they further reduce the price, is there any rules they are breaking?
I have challenged the company in question and been given some rather snotty reply about offers being 'subject to stock' but knowing the product in question, it has been discontinued for some time now and kits are trading at 3 times the price AR**S are listing it for. I suspect the listing is just to drive traffic to their website.
shep1001 said:
If a company offers an item for sale at a good discounted price making it very attractive to buyers but they don't actually have any stock to sell, then they further reduce the price, is there any rules they are breaking?
I have challenged the company in question and been given some rather snotty reply about offers being 'subject to stock' but knowing the product in question, it has been discontinued for some time now and kits are trading at 3 times the price AR**S are listing it for. I suspect the listing is just to drive traffic to their website.
Advertising Standards Authority take such things seriously. at least seriously enough to send the company an email i the first instance.I have challenged the company in question and been given some rather snotty reply about offers being 'subject to stock' but knowing the product in question, it has been discontinued for some time now and kits are trading at 3 times the price AR**S are listing it for. I suspect the listing is just to drive traffic to their website.
They've just hit Morrisson's following a 'while stocks last' promotion.
I had exactly the same issue, with the same retailer hinted to by the OP
I was struggling to find a Christmas pressie for my youngest son, when I spotted an advert from said retailer for a GoPro on special offer of £199
I immediately logged on to their website and reserved the item for collection at a local branch that was showing stock. However, I got a message saying the reservation had failed.
My daughter in law works at the call centre for the retailer, so I gave her a call and asked her to track down one of the GoPros and get it shipped to my local branch. After a couple of minutes, she called back and informed me that there were none in stock at ANY branch throughout the country, none at any of the distribution depots and that the item was showing as discontinued - ie they will never be in stock again.
When I questioned the TV advert from half an hour previously, she said "oh, they're always doing that to drive up traffic....."
Bloody infuriating and I'm pretty sure it must be illegal (ie one cannot sell what one does not own, although Amazon seem to make a few quid from it.....) I think the true offence here is false advertising, on the basis that the retailer knew full well that they were never going to be able to supply the goods. I suspect they are merely exploiting a loophole in the regulations
I was struggling to find a Christmas pressie for my youngest son, when I spotted an advert from said retailer for a GoPro on special offer of £199
I immediately logged on to their website and reserved the item for collection at a local branch that was showing stock. However, I got a message saying the reservation had failed.
My daughter in law works at the call centre for the retailer, so I gave her a call and asked her to track down one of the GoPros and get it shipped to my local branch. After a couple of minutes, she called back and informed me that there were none in stock at ANY branch throughout the country, none at any of the distribution depots and that the item was showing as discontinued - ie they will never be in stock again.
When I questioned the TV advert from half an hour previously, she said "oh, they're always doing that to drive up traffic....."
Bloody infuriating and I'm pretty sure it must be illegal (ie one cannot sell what one does not own, although Amazon seem to make a few quid from it.....) I think the true offence here is false advertising, on the basis that the retailer knew full well that they were never going to be able to supply the goods. I suspect they are merely exploiting a loophole in the regulations
Very cynical tactic but not uncommon, slightly different example but a well known car sales outfit near me will advertise an "amazing" bank holiday weekend sale on radio and TV and highlight one or two particular examples at a very attractive price, however you could be the 1st customer through the door at 9.00.01 am on the 1st day of the "sale" and the advertised vehicles will be on display with large Sold signs on them.
Virtually identical models elsewhere on site,similar miles,spec etc etc will be available but at £1000-£2000 more. I'm still waiting to see that this particular company gets a big fine one day! Tut tut
Virtually identical models elsewhere on site,similar miles,spec etc etc will be available but at £1000-£2000 more. I'm still waiting to see that this particular company gets a big fine one day! Tut tut
kers.GC8 said:
I hate ARseS and have a personal vendetta running with them.
Lego Technic set 9398 if you fancy a moan. Retired set ages ago and sold out everywhere, it was popular. £99 last week (no stock anywhere) yet they are now £89.99 this week (still no stock anywhere). Double that and + some more via your fav' on-line stores like Amazon & Co yet these cretins have it up for £89.99........ That product is a clearance line so it will be each of the stores running their stocks down until it's gone. As you might expect, sometimes it takes a little longer to sell out at a few less heavily populated locations, so price revisions may be applied for one final push.
As you get towards the last few units in a few stores, it can start to appear that all the stock has gone. The more likely scenario is that there is stock on a store shelf, but someone else has already reserved it. In extreme cases, you get unscrupulous members of the public reserving every available item and then selling on the slots on eBay etc. Eventually all the stock will have sold and been collected, so expect the line to disappear off the site altogether.
As you get towards the last few units in a few stores, it can start to appear that all the stock has gone. The more likely scenario is that there is stock on a store shelf, but someone else has already reserved it. In extreme cases, you get unscrupulous members of the public reserving every available item and then selling on the slots on eBay etc. Eventually all the stock will have sold and been collected, so expect the line to disappear off the site altogether.
shep1001 said:
Lego Technic set 9398 if you fancy a moan. Retired set ages ago and sold out everywhere, it was popular. £99 last week (no stock anywhere) yet they are now £89.99 this week (still no stock anywhere). Double that and + some more via your fav' on-line stores like Amazon & Co yet these cretins have it up for £89.99........
Argos Doncaster Wheatley store have one according what's near me.Zoobeef said:
Argos Doncaster Wheatley store have one according what's near me.
If you try and order it from Ely, Doncaster or Kingston, you get an error message. Spoke to Ely they have no stock despite what the store checker says!. Its like the 10220 R2D2's - when they had the 3 for 2 offer on at christmas guess which sets were never in stock!Edited by shep1001 on Thursday 12th February 20:58
shep1001 said:
If you try and order it from Ely, Doncaster or Kingston, you get an error message. Spoke to Ely they have no stock despite what the store checker says!. Its like the 10220 R2D2's - when they had the 3 for 2 offer on at christmas guess which sets were never in stock!
I've just reserved it for collection at the doncaster store but will wait for the email. Says they hold it for one day so ill see if they actually have it!Edited by shep1001 on Thursday 12th February 20:58
(I don't actually want it, they only hold it for 1 day)
I have had this happen twice this week when enquiring about purchasing a car at a reasonable price, even once putting a deposit down only for the car (SOR) to have been sold privately by the owner. On the second occasion it had just been sold as I was trying to arrange a viewing, I was then sent details of other exact cars they had at 5/6k more......no thanks.
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