Is there a legal option with Boots not providing a free gift?

bluejonny

I just ordered some expensive perfume from Boots as a Christmas present, after researching loads of sites, I realised the price is pretty much fixed across retailers. However, Boots were offering a free gift of a miniature of the perfume and some face cream. So swayed by that offer, I bought. 

Whe said package arrived, just the perfume was inside, even though the order for  said 'FREE GIFT - perfume pack' on it. Now, getting hold of anyone at Boots is like trying to wake the dead, but when Ieventually got through, I was told that nothing could be done to replace it, as Boots do not keep an inventory or stock levels of that stock. 

Is there any legal recourse here? I only bought from Boots because of the offer, which was obviously just a lie to get me to purchase with little intention of providing the gift. False advertising?  The perfume is now out of stock everywhere so returning it for a refund is big no.
Thanks

Blue 

sarah1972

Pmd the team to move to a board as it’s currently not been posted in one. 

Looking at this quote of yours, “which was obviously just a lie to get me to purchase with little intention of providing the gift. False advertising? "

It’s not a lie, they ran out of free gifts from the sound of it which happens as usually there will be limited numbers. It’s not false advertising either if they have ran out of the free gift. It usually says whilst stocks last. Pic attached with a current offer. 

cymruchris

Yes you have some recourse - you can send it back and get a refund (assuming it's still sealed) - while stocks last doesn't last forever sadly. 

Katiehound

I had a similar issue with a Superdrug order.

 I should have had a free tube of toothpaste with a new electric toothbrush. (I know , not as valuable as free perfume!) However I contacted them with the 'chat now' button and they said that the freebie was dependent on stock levels but they were pleased to offer me loyalty points to the value of £3- probable cost of toothpaste.

If you have a Boots Advantage card you might ask if they would give you points to the value of the freebie. Worth a try.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Whilst stocks last may not be a fair term unless the retailer can show they removed the offer as soon as they ran out of stock of the free item and if they did that there wouldn't be any need to say whilst stocks last but sadly the value of any free gift in this instance wouldn't warrant any kind of serious pursuit on this matter over a technicality that isn't set in stone. 

Poor service IMO, OP anywhere to leave a review for Boots where they might pick up on it and offer some goodwill? 

Aylesbury_Duck

Your options are to return it for a full refund, or not.  You can't force them to provide what they don't have.

p00hsticks

bluejonny said:

after researching loads of sites, I realised the price is pretty much fixed across retailers.

bluejonny said:

Is there any legal recourse here?I only bought from Boots because of the offer, which was obviously just a lie to get me to purchase with little intention of providing the gift. False advertising?  The perfume is now out of stock everywhere so returning it for a refund is big no.

As others have said, while disappointing, the offer almost certainly did exist but there was a limited amount of stock of the free gift, and it almost certainly will have stated this at the point of ordering.

Your legal recourse is to return for a refund, but given that you say that it was actually thje amin item you really wanted and that it's price was the same across all retailers, then when it comes down to it you're no worse off than if you'd just bought the main item elsewhere (assuming you could find somewhere else with stock).