False Advertising Online?

Invalid_Username

I bought a stove from Woodburnerworld.co.uk for £169.97 recently. It was listed as RRP £299.99 but had a saving of £130 next to the price. Underneath this price was a countdown time saying the offer ends in so many days. The seconds, minutes, hours and days were counting down.

Because of the timer and the price I bought the stove earlier on my credit card. I had intended to buy the week after when I had been paid.

I've logged on today after my stove had arrived to look at some other items and saw that the very same stove that was on special time limited offer last week at £169.97 is now being sold at £124.97 now the offer has finished.

This seems very unfair and I felt I was encouraged in to buying the stove earlier than I wanted, at a higher price, due to the impression that was given that the price would rise when the timer ended.

As far as I understand this is false advertising and isn't permitted, but I thought I'd check here.

I've emailed the company and asked them to refund the difference due to the above. Not sure if they will yet.

Any thoughts anyone?

wealdroam

Invalid_Username wrote: »

I bought a stove from Woodburnerworld.co.uk for £169.97 recently. It was listed as RRP £299.99 but had a saving of £130 next to the price. Underneath this price was a countdown time saying the offer ends in so many days. The seconds, minutes, hours and days were counting down.

Because of the timer and the price I bought the stove earlier on my credit card. I had intended to buy the week after when I had been paid.

I've logged on today after my stove had arrived to look at some other items and saw that the very same stove that was on special time limited offer last week at £169.97 is now being sold at £124.97 now the offer has finished.

This seems very unfair and I felt I was encouraged in to buying the stove earlier than I wanted, at a higher price, due to the impression that was given that the price would rise when the timer ended.

As far as I understand this is false advertising and isn't permitted, but I thought I'd check here.

I've emailed the company and asked them to refund the difference due to the above. Not sure if they will yet.

Any thoughts anyone?

You could report them to the Advertising Standards Authority if you wish.

Oakdene

Perhaps they were hoping to sell them all at the price you paid but they didnt so they reduced it again....

Invalid_Username

I'll accept they want to sell the stock, but I was under the impression they couldn't imply it was a time limited price reduction to encourage a buyer to buy under pressure, only to then extend the offer or create a further one.

The timer gave the impression that they were reduced for a short amount of time, not for long term.

I just thought I'd check on here see if anyone knew for sure.

unholyangel

Invalid_Username wrote: »

I'll accept they want to sell the stock, but I was under the impression they couldn't imply it was a time limited price reduction to encourage a buyer to buy under pressure, only to then extend the offer or create a further one.

The timer gave the impression that they were reduced for a short amount of time, not for long term.

I just thought I'd check on here see if anyone knew for sure.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284442/oft1008.pdf

(7) Falsely stating that a product will only be available for
a very limited time, or that it will only be available on
particular terms for a very limited time, in order to elicit an
immediate decision and deprive consumers of sufficient
opportunity or time to make an informed choice.

Its a banned practice. The only problem is that technically, their advertising did not falsely state it would only be available on particular terms for a very limited time as its now available on different terms.

However pricing practices can still be misleading even if they are factually correct. The current guidance on pricing practices can be found here:
https://www.businesscompanion.info/sites/default/files/Guidance-for-Traders-on-Pricing-Practices-2016.pdf


OP how long ago did you receive it? Have you opened & used it? You could potentially (depending on the answers to the questions) cancel under CCRs and then reorder at the cheaper price (or even point this out to the retailer to strengthen your request for a refund of the difference). You may be liable for the return postage costs though if the retailer informed you of this prior to you entering the contract.

ETA: Just checked their website and given they're still operating under DSRs (which haven't been in force for over 3 years), theres a good chance they haven't complied with the requirements of the Consumer Contract (Information, Cancellation & Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (which replaced the DSRs in June 2014).

Invalid_Username

I ordered it last week and took delivery of it today.

I've started installing it now, so I don't want to send it back.

I've emailed them to ask if they'll consider refunding the difference based on what's happened. I'll see what they say.

naedanger

Invalid_Username wrote: »

I bought a stove from Woodburnerworld.co.uk for £169.97 recently. It was listed as RRP £299.99 but had a saving of £130 next to the price. Underneath this price was a countdown time saying the offer ends in so many days. The seconds, minutes, hours and days were counting down.

Because of the timer and the price I bought the stove earlier on my credit card. I had intended to buy the week after when I had been paid.

I've logged on today after my stove had arrived to look at some other items and saw that the very same stove that was on special time limited offer last week at £169.97 is now being sold at £124.97 now the offer has finished.

This seems very unfair and I felt I was encouraged in to buying the stove earlier than I wanted, at a higher price, due to the impression that was given that the price would rise when the timer ended.

As far as I understand this is false advertising and isn't permitted, but I thought I'd check here.

I've emailed the company and asked them to refund the difference due to the above. Not sure if they will yet.

Any thoughts anyone?

It is possibly an unfair trading practice. The relevant regulations are:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1277/pdfs/uksi_20081277_en.pdf

The regulations list practices that are always unfair, including the following, which is quite close (in my view) to the practice you experienced:

" Falsely stating that a product will only be available for a very limited time, or that it will only be available on particular terms for a very limited time, in order to elicit an immediate decision and deprive consumers of sufficient opportunity or time to make an informed choice. "

The regulations also explain what would make a practice unfair.

If you feel strongly you can (as suggested above) report them.

While you have asked if they will refund the difference I don't think they are under any obligation to agree (even if they were guilty of an unfair trading practice). But if they don't agree it might be worth pointing out the practice that induced you to buy the item when you did, was in your view against the "Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008".