Morrisons - Not honouring dates on deals - legal?

malc_b

Twice we have caught Morrison's reneging on deals. I can't see how they think that is legal. It certainly isn't moral! Or designed to keep customer loyalty.

For example, one deal was "Muller Corners, 10 for £2, offer ends 15th June" but go back in on 31 May and the offer has been withdrawn. Now, I can understand if they are out of stock, or if they put up a sign which does not say "offer ends", say "while stocks last", but when they clearly state the offer will be on for so many days then IMO that is an inducement to return to Morrison's to do more shopping, instead of say shopping next time at Sainsbury's. So if they don't honour that offer surely they are guilty of false advertising?

dougs

I suspect somewhere in the small print they 'reserve the right to withdraw' a particular offer, which will cover their backs.

zenseeker

They can withdraw an offer whenever they want, all supermarkets can, it certainly isn't illegal.

scubaangel

It's likely that they project the 'end' of a deal based on how well stock sells during a typical period, and order the stock at 'deal' prices from their wholesaler, if the stock sells faster and the deal has ended/been withdrawn by their wholesaler then they cant buy more stock to sell at the 'deal' rate, so rather than losing money on every transaction will remove the deal from their stores.

WATTY1978

Its not only deals they try to get out of, i made a complaint last July when i found a large bone in my chicken curry. I received two letters saying they were looking into it but by November i still hadn't received any response so i called them. they told me a report had been sent out to me in October and were surprised i hadn't received it. they agreed to send another but wouldn't tell me what it said.

i called again in January saying i hadn't received the second report and did they want to check my address, but they said no a copy of the report had been sent that very same day???

The nextday by recorded delivery i got a report plus a letter and a £15 voucher.

Although a very nice gesture i made me doubt whether or not the two rpevious reports had veer been sent and indeed whether i would have received anythign had i not called and chased them up???

Makes you wonder doesn't it!

zenseeker

WATTY1978 wrote: »

Makes you wonder doesn't it!

Not really, admin mistakes like that are not uncommon, and they are legally obliged not to reveal details of reports over the phone.

hippey

zenseeker wrote: »

They can withdraw an offer whenever they want, all supermarkets can, it certainly isn't illegal.

It does depend on where it is advertised, the ASA do crack down on those who deliberatly mislead customers, even with small print.

The odd occasion will be fine, but a constant trend is unacceptable, however if the adverts are just shelf edge labels then there is very little that can be done other than goodwill.

zenseeker

hippey wrote: »

It does depend on where it is advertised, the ASA do crack down on those who deliberatly mislead customers, even with small print.

But the withdrawal of an offer is not in anyway misleading the customer. There are endless reasons why an offer may have to be withdrawn, which is why they cover themselves in the small print.

As long as all shelf promotion is removed/changed there is no misleading going on and no laws being broken.

spaceman5

as already stated if an offer is withdrawn early, it is usually demand out stripping supply, not very often it happens, and i am sure it happens at all the supermarkets, not just morrisons, bit stange that this offer was on last may and you are complaining about it now, Dave

Sooler

So the shelf label should also have the small print. If the shelf label has no small print and just says "offer ends 15th June" - where does the customer go to find the small print?

If they end it sooner then it was a lie.

char_student

if something advertised at a certain price, the shop does not have to sell it to you for that price. The ad is an invitation to treat, when you got to the cashier you make an offer to pay for it at the price, which the cashier can eitehr accept.reject

So yes morrisons can do it