Does Coles bait advertise?

cloudy on 27/11/2013 - 18:44

So my uncle saw frozen whole ducks at half price this week. So my uncle drove to 3 Coles stores and none of them had stock, one of them had a non-frozen duck and my uncle asked if it was $11 (holding the advertisement in hand) and the staff said this wasn't on sale, since it wasn't a frozen duck.

Now this experience seems common in the Coles we are near, and recently I had a colleague who said he wrote to the ACCC about another Coles item not available, on a Wednesday the first day of their sale.

I want to ask ozbargainers if they experience this often too? Surely it's not just me (or the people I know)

General Discussion

Related Stores

Coles
Coles

Comments

  • PissLUR on 27/11/2013 - 18:53
    +23

    rain check..
    rain check..
    rain check..
    rain check..
    rain check..
    rain check..
    rain check..
    rain check..

    I'd be happy to see an advertised item to be out of stock at coles.

    • moooooooo on 28/11/2013 - 22:41
      +1

      My local Woolworths and Coles have each refused to issue rainchecks for items on the first day of the week. They would offer them later in the week, but not the first 2-3 days, just stating they will get more in stock tomorrow, and it was too early in the week to offer rainchecks. I admit I'm lazy and have never pursued it further, but it annoys me because it's happened multiple times.

      • nikey2k27 on 28/11/2013 - 23:32
        +1

        Demand it my local coles can be like this until call the store manger. i know him as my old boss from last job.

    • abc boy on 29/11/2013 - 01:20
      +1

      I had a rain check from my local Coles. but it's been 10 days. the rain check is still in my hand. :(
      I had another rain check from Wooly for rice bran oil (half price). 15 days gone, still in my hand.

      • Ahan on 03/12/2013 - 14:05

        I have been waiting for the oil as well.

      • tinx on 10/12/2013 - 11:01

        My local oakleigh store said that the oil is discontinued ….

        Going to check another store but low expectation

      • JR63 on 14/12/2013 - 22:28

        The Alfa One 4L rice bran oil is a discontinued line (I work there, and have checked it in the system)

    • conio on 29/11/2013 - 21:13

      and just in case

      rain check again

  • tonka on 27/11/2013 - 19:02
    +1

    Rain Check.

    • bb_hunter on 28/11/2013 - 22:19
      +1

      we love ducks so bought the last one and rain check 4 more, Coles change their rain check policy it will now last one year instead of one month (but you can only use it once).
      I don't think it is bait advertising but you are just a bit slow.
      You can always buy them at Aldi for $17.

  • Almost Banned on 27/11/2013 - 19:19
    +3

    IIRC it is a breach of the ACL not to have reasonably sufficient stocks of advertised items…

  • bossmode on 27/11/2013 - 19:51
    +3

    A few days ago when I was at Coles they did an announcement where they said that mangoes out the front of the store were $1 for the next hour only. The ones at the back were more so obviously I went to go check it out.

    Get there, mangoes looked as though they were all on death row: Soft and dilapidated. There was no chance in hell they were "going back to its usual price" after that hour.

    • Car-la-la on 27/11/2013 - 22:31
      +23

      great story … can't wait for the sequel

    • snappy1234 on 28/11/2013 - 07:47
      +4

      mangoes looked as though they were all on death row: Soft and dilapidated

      Sounds like a good deal to make fresh mango smoothies YIPEEE

    • Parentheses on 28/11/2013 - 23:19
      +1

      That sounds rather normal, tbh.

      They had old mangoes they put on clearance for $1, and at the end of the hour they go in the bin, and the fresh mangoes they have in the back go on show.

    • Harold Halfprice on 29/11/2013 - 08:57
      +2

      I work at safeway produce
      This is done regularly with stock that is getting old - it's put up for clearance at a low price before getting thrown out and allowing newer stock to make way. In fact, that as purely the entire basis of all clearances regardless of whether it is fresh produce, longlife goods or even material products.
      I don't see the issue?

  • necromen13 on 27/11/2013 - 19:57
    +2

    To my knowledge, there's a supply issue or somethig with those ducks. There was an apology notice at the service desk of the Coles I frequent. Unfortunately, this also means you can't get a raincheck because the will be no more supply of the 2.1kg ducks, only 2kg and 1.9kg, and the raincheck has to be for the same weight.

    (I asked about a raincheck after they didn't have any and got told all this.)

    • AntMan76 on 27/11/2013 - 21:20
      +3

      A half decent manager would discount either of those other ducks as a gesture of goodwill, but only for 1 item.

      • necromen13 on 27/11/2013 - 22:21

        I think those ones are discounted as well but I can't recall the price so I may be wrong.

    • catinjapan on 28/11/2013 - 08:12

      I heard the same from my mother and all her friends after running around to several Coles. They really wanted those ducks! The manager wasn't able to grant a rain check.

    • abc boy on 29/11/2013 - 01:34

      I heard the same story and get a rain check for the 2.0 kg duck. perhaps the duck still flying in the sky.

  • c64 on 27/11/2013 - 23:09

    one coles near me gives rain checks which are valid for 12 months! needless to say it is a great way of getting decent bargains later on in the year

  • spal on 28/11/2013 - 05:07
    +1

    I managed to get rain check. Needed for one; manager gave me for six saying it is valid for 12 months. The store was also offering. 1.9 and 2 kg sizes on the same per kg rate as 2.1kilo. However there was no stock. I was told that there were supply issues and none of the store had stock.

  • ThisJustin on 28/11/2013 - 06:37
    +2

    Coles near me seems to have similar issues. They offer rain checks or in a few cases I have been able to get a more expense product for the price of the original product.

    For example, I was looking for some honey which was around $4 but because they didn't have that I was able to get a more expensive honey (over double the price) for $4.

    So while it is sometimes frustrating it can work in your favour if you bother to ask someone for help. Being polite with a smile usually get you further than being a jerk, by the way. You see the way some customer speak to employees and you just wanna smack 'em for being so rude and mean.

  • lakers1222 on 28/11/2013 - 08:24

    Interesting post ! Being a cheapskate I often find myself asking for rain checks. I've got some interesting Questions

    1. Sometimes in the brochure the item will be listed as 'while stocks last' and I have been a refused a rain check. I understand that but want to know other than that reason, are they legally allowed to refuse a rain checks request ?

    I have been refused a few times are Woolies and Coles. Their excuses range from "We've run out of rain check paper slips" and "It's a limited edition product that they won't be getting anymore stock of in the following weeks"

    1. Is there a maximum number of the same item we can get a rain check. I like tuna and I have restricted me to 6 cans. The promotion was 10 cans for $10, so I the rain check was for full priced tuna

    edit: I have no idea why my Q2 has been renumbered to another Q1

    • c64 on 28/11/2013 - 09:05

      often they say "no rainchecks" in the advertising

      • lakers1222 on 28/11/2013 - 19:55

        that explains it. Thanks :)

    • abc boy on 29/11/2013 - 01:56
      +1

      you are not alone. another excuse: "this is special priced item, rain check can not be issued." :0(

    • fatal on 29/11/2013 - 12:16

      Of course they can "legally" refuse you a rain check - there is not law that states they must honour a rain check. If they are out of stock, they aren't obligated to help you provided of course the sale was legitimate and they had "adequate" stock.

  • cloudy on 28/11/2013 - 10:26
    -1

    Well from all the comments, it seems like they have a supply issue on the week they offer a special…which, coincedently, seems like a common occurance at coles from what my mum and other says.

    Which leads to the original question, is this bait advertising? Shouldn't you stock up before you fire up the printing press and advertise your specials?

    • Parentheses on 28/11/2013 - 23:20
      +2

      The specials are organised weeks in advance, and suppliers deliver on the day - its easy for a logistics screw-up to snowball across an individual store or state.

      • cloudy on 29/11/2013 - 16:16
        -1

        I'd like to think its an innocent explainable issue, but when the experience is consistent, its likely a issue with misleading advertising and poor management.

  • shakeasnake on 28/11/2013 - 12:20

    Okay Cloudy, I thought I posted a comment earlier but it seems to have disappeared.

    I spoke to the manager at my local Coles regarding the ducks. At this store the ducks were purchased by a small number of people. Stock arrived on multiple days and again went off (apparently) with the same folk. I also saw two ladies loading a shopping trolley with fish oil capsules which were also on sale. This shortly after the store opened. I am hard-pressed to believe that the quantity being purchased was for private consumption.

    I missed the bike racks at my local Aldi where the entire stock was purchased by one person. The stock of bikes was almost completely taken by two people, again shortly after store opening. This is a common occurrence in my area (Eastwood NSW). It annoys the crap out of me. There are either a lot of Brodens out there or very demented hoarders.

    • cloudy on 28/11/2013 - 12:45

      This may be true, but Coles still don't stock enough of sale items.

      My local woolworths, has sooooo much stock, i've seen people trollying off enough rice to feed the family in the event of war, and still they dont run out of stock.

      Infact, i've never seen my woolies run out of stock on sale items even if its the last day of the sale. I just popped into woolies and saw at least 200 boxes of chocolate, that is 1/2 price this week. i guesstimate i'd need around $5,000 to buy it all.

      Where as coles, its the opposite, go there Wednesday, Sale day 1, no stock. Go there, any day inbetween, no stock, go there last day. no stock.

      lucky i work right near a coles, and it costs me nothing to drop by.

    • one man clan on 29/11/2013 - 10:45
      +1

      If you live in Eastwood, it's probably local restaurants buying them up.

    • Miss Dior on 29/11/2013 - 17:11

      'very demented hoarders'…. do I know you? Oh and I didn't get a duck either, but I did get a rain check. If I knew they lasted a year I'd have asked for more than one.

  • stephi on 28/11/2013 - 12:51

    What are Brodans?

  • JudoChop on 28/11/2013 - 18:20

    Slightly O/T but did anyone see the apology on the Luv-a-duck website?
    http://cdn-media.luvaduck.com.au/inc/download/ACCC-Notice.pd…

    Didn't stop me from buying several of them last week when Woollies had them for the $11

  • John Dough on 28/11/2013 - 18:47

    Well %$#^ a duck!

  • [Deactivated] on 28/11/2013 - 20:18
    +1

    I actually rain checked 6 of these quackers the week they were on offer in one store and redeemed just this week in a different store … I am one happy bird ;)

  • T1 on 28/11/2013 - 22:45
    +2

    People want ducks.

  • altomic on 28/11/2013 - 22:45

    coles are the masters of baiting.

  • imket on 29/11/2013 - 04:37
    +1

    people buy boxes of them at once. Thats why they're always out. Just get a rain check. Nightfills tend to be more easy and no rules apply

  • gjk on 29/11/2013 - 06:15

    I went to multiple coles last week to find a number of their advertised specials. None in stock anywhere and no spot in the shelf for the product. Look like they never had stock and no intention of getting more. Sent email to Coles and got crap reply about they have great logistic systems in place and would notify the store manager of my disappointment. No mention of rain check policy,Not going back to Coles. This was not a one off popular product. Woolworths don't seem to have same issues.

    • altomic on 29/11/2013 - 10:49
      +1

      i went to the barracks (brisbane) yesterday to get a $10 box of lindt balls. looked all through the confectionery area and couldn't see them. there was an additional whole section for "on special" chocolates e.g. quality street tins, cadbury favourites, etc,m and the lIndt boxes weren't there.

      turns out that the lindt balls were opposite the registers. (premo shelf location)

      not saying you didn't look well enough or they weren't out of stock. just saying that sometimes specials are not in the usual/expected place and Coles are sometimes weird with where they put stuff.

  • wabster on 29/11/2013 - 12:15
    +1

    The Luv a Duck special at Coles has been a total debacle in the area where I'm located, Hurstville NSW.

    Coles advertised they'd be available for 2 weeks ending Tuesday 3rd December. I personally checked Coles both stores locally every day, and never saw a single duck. I checked Riverwood once, and friends checked Ramsgate and Oatley, again not a duck in sight.

    Half price ducks (Size 21, $11) are doubtless cheaper than all the local chinese restaurant owners can buy them wholesale.

    As soon as they few that were available went into the freezer displays, it was on, and they were headed out the door, by the trolley load in some cases.

    Coles made no attempt to ascertain demand before the special went "to air" or to limit the number people bought in a single transaction. This is a management/marketing oversight or error and has caused the poor shop front staff some major grief.

    I'd be very surprised if there aren't a few people who have been irritated enough by the lack of supply to have complained to Fair Trading, as that is where I was headed today if I hadn't struck a helpful staff member who saved me 2 ducks and I picked them up early this morning.

    My major irritant was that Coles didn't put a warning on the E-catalogue so that when you log onto it, it warns you of a shortage so you don't go looking every day. I had no idea they had shortages and people hogging the lot.

    That to me reeks of false advertising.

    Cheerz Wabster.

  • fox81 on 29/11/2013 - 12:44

    I called the coles customer feedback line to complain about this. they weren't very helpful.
    ive since lodged a complaint with consumer affairs Victoria. you should do likewise with your local consumer body.

  • wabster on 29/11/2013 - 13:20

    Yes I'd suggest people complain to Consumer Affairs.

    If they get enough calls they'll harass Coles.

    I can't as my problem is resolved, I bought ducks.

    But the rainchecks issue is going to be a major pain for sure.

    No doubt we'll turn up brandishing our rainchecks for Size 21 Luv a ducks to be told sorry, we don't have them anymore.

    However there will be the smaller sizes. I took a photo of the note at the freezer saying other sizes will be substituted.

    If they won't allow it, THEN I'm off to Consumer Affairs.

    • cloudy on 29/11/2013 - 16:12

      My colleage wrote to the ACCC about another item he wanted a few weeks ago, i'll keep you updated if he gets a response.

      • wabster on 29/11/2013 - 16:47

        Thanks cloudy, this is going to blow up in Coles face I hope.

        I have been haranguing Coles on Twitter (@Coles) and they have verified that you'll need a rain check FOR EVERY SIZE even though Coles is substituting other sizes for the 2.1kg (Size 21) bird in the ad.

        So by issuing rain checks for 2.1kg Luv a Ducks they avoid honouring them by simply stocking the 2 other sizes they substituted for the 2.1kg in the first place.

        I sincerely hope this all doesn't end well with Coles.

  • fox81 on 29/11/2013 - 13:30

    Coles refused to give me a raincheck as they said they wouldn't be getting anymore. there was a the note about the substitutes but I was advised these hadn't arrived yet. they sure baited me into their store on the premise of half price duck.

  • xlimit on 29/11/2013 - 15:05

    Coles has always been great with stock in my experience. For highly sought after items or things with significant discounts they usually disappear after the first two days. Plenty people grab excess since there is no limit. You cant blame coles if u choose to get there late. I've always been given a raincheck for their stocked store items. One store even went as far as to give me a substitutes for free because they had run out. For things like duck which you never see in the year or cant get a raincheck for, if u dont go in the mornings, well bring some tissues. For example, I went to the valley store the thurs morning and saw plenty of duck in one section of the freezer. This was at 7 in the morning and I could see people grabbing as many as 3. I come back in to get some lunch at 12 and that section was empty.

    Sorry to say but I think this duck fiasco is a case of you snooze you lose.

    • cloudy on 29/11/2013 - 16:11
      +2

      Did you read the post?

      The people who are missing out are going on the first day, usually during the day. these are old retired people with nothing better to do than to grab supermarket specials. If they are missing out, i doubt anyone else has a better chance.

    • shakeasnake on 29/11/2013 - 16:43
      +1

      "You snooze, you lose" may work in Death Valley where you are but I and many others have had to contend with people who, logic would suggest, are buying for businesses. Stock going in the first few days is one thing but going in the first few minutes is quite something else.

      Even so, Coles needs to work on its demand and logistics management and not rely on the goodwill of its local staff in trying resolve these stockouts.

      And yes, Cloudy, Woolworths does do it better.

      • RockyRaccoon on 29/11/2013 - 22:55
        +1

        No they dont.

        Just got back from my Woolies, sold out of the quality street chocs and refused a raincheck because they MAY not get any more. Even when I said well if you dont get any more then having a raincheck is ok as you wont supply if it isnt there but if you do have them I can get the same price, but no, they wouldnt budge.

        • ThisJustin on 30/11/2013 - 06:04

          That does seem like a strange argument against providing a rain check. Employees might be told not to give rain checks on the more premium or expensive items.

  • maybeamacy on 29/11/2013 - 18:52

    No stock where I live either :(

  • abc boy on 29/11/2013 - 20:47

    ===== 4 ducks left at Gladsville Coles at 7:30pm Fri 29th. If you pass there, drop by and try your luck. :) =====

  • conio on 29/11/2013 - 21:16

    so many comments , yet not a mention of Pluck a Duck … OZ Bargain I'm dissappoint

    • cloudy on 29/11/2013 - 22:48
      +2

      We're trying g our best to pluck a duck, but in spite of the advertisement, there is no duck to pluck.

  • spoonmugen on 29/11/2013 - 23:00

    melb…
    went to 3 different coles when they had half price lamb shoulder…
    $5.99 a kg…

    none… no one knew if they ever had any…

    • voteoften on 30/11/2013 - 03:47

      I saw it at Coles Mosman Park and coles Subiaco (WA)

  • Ughhh on 30/11/2013 - 02:54
    +2

    I went to a Coles today and asked about the duck. The staff said they had two cartons in and were sold out in 3 hours cause everyone were buying like 6 ducks each. They couldn't offer raincheck as they don't know if they will be getting more in. Bloody duck brodens!

  • voteoften on 30/11/2013 - 03:48

    I have three different rainchecks. One for 4, one for 2 and one for 3. Hope they will honour them in a few months…..

    • c64 on 02/12/2013 - 11:29

      the raincheck should say how long it is valid for. some stores are 30 days, others give 1 year.

  • fox81 on 30/11/2013 - 10:36

    just in case anyone else in VIC wants to lodge a complaint, here you go
    https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/cav-forms/generalcomplaint…

  • BumbaT on 30/11/2013 - 14:39
    -2

    Put the non frozen duck in the freezer and come back in 4 hours and buy it then. Genius.

  • sheikyerbouti on 01/12/2013 - 07:57

    Driving to 3 stores, with time taken, fuel, hassle, negates saving right?

    • cloudy on 01/12/2013 - 10:05
      +1

      Yea, my uncle says he will never duck into a Coles again. No savings to get

  • mxyzptik on 01/12/2013 - 20:29

    Can you exchange a rain check for something else?

    Seriously, I am embarrassed to say I've been in Australia 27 years and never knowingly rain-checked anything, let alone done multiple ones! I'm going to have to look up/ask how they work! Don't tell anyone!

    EDIT: Sorry, I meant, my uncle.

    • cloudy on 02/12/2013 - 10:22

      LOL i like your cynicism

  • voteoften on 02/12/2013 - 00:34

    I just got a raincheck every time I was in Coles. They were very apologetic and nice about it. I hope to have time to go to one tomorrow and grab some Lindt Lanterns. If I do, I will get another rain check. It is a fabulous price and the rainchecks are valid for a year. At some stage they will return and I'll get them I am sure. I am happy to wait as I don't have room in my freezer at the moment.

    You just go up to the customer service desk and ask for one. At two of the stores, they had a stack waiting. The only thing to be filled out was the quantity.

  • Yacht on 02/12/2013 - 12:04

    I'm waiting for the turkeys to go on sale. Surely going to have the same issues as those with the duck.

  • team teri on 03/12/2013 - 17:18

    When they had no stock again today of those ducks (4th visit in 2 weeks) and refused to give a rain-check I had enough. I told the store manager my next step would be the ACCC - he still refused to write a rain-check.

    The online form is very straightforward, I suggest everyone who missed out on a duck fills it in:
    https://www.accc.gov.au/contact-us/contact-the-accc/consumer…

    Underestimating demand is one thing, that can happen to any business. But then refusing to do anything to make up for it - and advertising a second week - that is bad form and should be stopped.

    • voteoften on 05/12/2013 - 00:23

      What location?

  • Whodis on 10/12/2013 - 13:49

    What about the Woolies ad where the first page says $5 over a ham, then you realise it's $5 off per kg, in fine print $7.29/kg on the bottom?

  • maybeamacy on 12/12/2013 - 23:51

    Duck is finally back instock at my local store lol

    • fox81 on 14/12/2013 - 16:17

      not at mine. I did get a response from consumer Victoria saying that because there was no contract (ie, I didn't buy anything), they couldn't investigate.
      I raised a complaint thru the ACCC as per team teri's comment above, and strangely, I received a call from my local coles to tell me they still haven't received the substitute duck, but would let me know when they did.

  • wabster on 13/12/2013 - 07:41

    The Tassal smoked salmon 315gm special, $11 instead of $14.50 is headed towards being another Luv a duck fiasco.

    I'm going to start collecting rainchecks from today, which will hopefully keep me in smoked salmon well into 2104.

    All there is are empty boxes, someone is cleaning them out fast, but don't Coles ever figure how popular these things are going to be just before Christmas?

    • cloudy on 13/12/2013 - 09:16

      its a saving of $3.50 (25-30%??), not massive, and they can't even stock enough for this "demand". what a joke.

      • wabster on 14/12/2013 - 09:08

        Of course there is abundant stock of all the other smoked salmon that sits in the high 40s per kilo.

        And still no freaking ducks around Hurstville.

        Agreed, it borders on a joke.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join