MSE News: OFT warns over misleading ads that cost consumers cash

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The watchdog says business that flout the rules face court action or fines, after a study found numerous deceptive ads ..."

Read the full story:
OFT warns over misleading ads that cost consumers cash

MORPH3US

"We urge all firms to review their pricing practices and to get their houses in order where necessary."

Wait a minute, I can see these retailers quaking in their boots and rushing off to change their pricing strategies right away NOT!!

Instead of telling the public what they already know, why don't these toothless spineless organisations get tough with these companies and if these practices aren't illegal, make them illegal....

I wonder how much it cost the taxpayer to do this amazing study :mad:

djtrev

asad with NESCAFE it was that 200g jar £3.00 then it was up to £4 a jar then it was £6.00 for two on offer and the 300g jar was £4.00 a jar then up to £6.50 then get 2 or £8 or £4 each lol its the same im a nescafe drinker thats all i drink so im alway looking for best buy in this when its £4 a jar for the 300g i get in 20 jars at the same time cos then i have it in untill it comes back on

krisskross

A non offer which irritated me recently was an Asda nationwide offer in the Daily Mirror. It was a coupon for a free box of breakfast cereal. I visited 3 Asda stores none of which had any stock and although the offer had 4 days to go they all said after checking that they were not expecting any to be delivered. And neither had they had extra stock preparatory to the offer.

Seemed like a real con to get people to buy the paper and go to an Asda store. When I complained I was referred to the words always in the T&Cs 'subject to availability'. Availabilty for me was nil. I have no idea what the Saturday circulation of the Daily Mirror is but I bet there weren't even a tiny fraction of the boxes of cereal available.

It would be very interesting if Asda published figures of how many customers availed themselves of such nationwide offers.

competitionscafe

Groupon ad on Facebook is very misleading - there are no free samples at Groupon (the second ad; which says tippr.com but gos to Groupon.co.uk as does the first/top ad)

robstersgirl

I hate the way tesco double or triple the rrp for the 3 for 1 offers makes it only marginally profitable compared to the normal selling price .
eg this week 1 litre of surf small and mighty is priced at £4.49 on 3 for 1 the normal price is around half this and it's pretty often on offer at my. shop for £1.99

keith99_2

robstersgirl wrote: »

I hate the way tesco double or triple the rrp for the 3 for 1 offers makes it only marginally profitable compared to the normal selling price .
eg this week 1 litre of surf small and mighty is priced at £4.49 on 3 for 1 the normal price is around half this and it's pretty often on offer at my. shop for £1.99

Sorry but its a myth that supermarkets put them up as much as you say. People are getting a bit paranoid and jumping on the bandwagon. thatguy1 posted the following link on the thread about the offer showing its the same price in all the main supermarkets.
http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Laundry/Surf_Small_And_Mighty_Concentrated_Liquid_Lavender_And_Oriental_Blossom_28_Washes_1L.html

robstersgirl

how can it be a myth when everytime one of these offers are on they increase the price of the one you buy?

robstersgirl

keith99 wrote: »

Sorry but its a myth that supermarkets put them up as much as you say. People are getting a bit paranoid and jumping on the bandwagon. thatguy1 posted the following link on the thread about the offer showing its the same price in all the main supermarkets.
http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Laundry/Surf_Small_And_Mighty_Concentrated_Liquid_Lavender_And_Oriental_Blossom_28_Washes_1L.html

maybe it's the smaller size we sell at work fair do's but they have previously eg the kellogs multipacks went up before hand , you are right on this occasion I am wrong

FromScotland_2

I have fallen for it a few times by buying a newspaper advertising something free from Asda or Tesco or Argos for example I buy the paper for exactly this purpose and they had 0 stock of the specific free item of that day in, and thats in the morning I usually go.

wozearly

MORPH3US - in fairness to the OFT, they're trying to warn the companies and encourage a voluntary change in behaviour. Trying to get laws in around how companies can or can't price and offer discounts is notoriously tricky.

Sadly, one of the oldest tricks in marketing is to make something appear better than it is. Which is why newspapers do the "Here's a coupon for a free (x) today" rather than saying "Here's a coupon for a free (x), valid until this time next year"...guess which one turns out to be cheaper due to difficulties with redeeming the offer?

Its the hidden fees and charges that drive me mildly up the wall, as their primary purpose is to disguise the true price in the hope that the customer will go so far down the route to purchase that by the time they realise the true cost, its that much easier to buy then than go back and re-research the alternatives.

Edit: Or, in the case of the banks, by the time you realise what the true cost of something is after fees, hidden charges, expiry of initial headline offers, etc. you've already bought the product and are now somewhat shafted.

While the budget airline approach to 'extras' that most people consider requirements is deeply annoying because it frustrates easy, direct comparisons, it is at least justifiable.

Its the 'booking fees' approach I feel is the worst. Any additional charge which is mandatory in purchasing the product really should be included in the price stated at the outset.