I wanted to buy a large climbing frame for my kids at the start of November for $1200, but was told by a friend to wait for their Black Friday sale. So waited for their sale to find the price had increased to $1500. Cyber Monday it was $1600 and now they have their huge Christmas 'sale' for $2000.
Do I have any recourse with ACCC or consumer affairs for misleading advertising?
UPDATE: well now that it's Christmas day and it's no longer on sale, the price of the set has gone down to $1400.
Do I have any recourse with ACCC or consumer affairs for misleading advertising?
ACCC isn't going after your friend for providing incorrect advice.
Best bet now is to unfriend on Facebook.
but was told by a friend to wait for their Black Friday sale.
Lol oops
What misleading advertising? Did they not sell it at the advertised price at the time? ACCC doesn't handle individual complaints BTW, they lodge them and watch for patterns and repeat offenders.
Anyway, it's possible, probably even likely, that it's legit price increases. A mate opened a retail store this year and I've been helping out a lot. Prices have been going up every month from suppliers. Often the new cost price is higher than what he was selling it for the month before.
How is it misleading? Prices are increasing. Have you not noticed that many consumer items have gone up in price?
The only thing misleading is your friend. They induced you with a statement which you relied on. Sue them for the difference in the November price against the price you have to pay now.
The misleading part is the claims that the item is on sale when it's actually more expensive than the non-sale price.
I do actually understand your point. I was being facetious.
It is too early to determine if the seller is being misleading as you don't know the true RRP that the "sale" claim is based on. The RRP for the item may have increased since November, hence you have to track the pricing after Christmas. It will take some time (i.e. months). In the meantime, your kids miss out on their present.
If they're advertising it as a sale price at $2k but it has never been at a full price higher than that then yes, i believe you can make a complaint but pretty futile really. Just spend your money elsewhere and write a Google review if it really irks you. If they just upped the price over and over again and it isn't advertised as on sale then no. What are they listing as the after sale price?
I'd be interested to see what it is after the sale price. They've been 'on sale' since the start of November and i'm sure they'll do a boxing day sale too, so might be waiting a while.
If you can't tell then it doesn't show on sale. If it's on sale then it will show the discount amount. Ie. The saving off the normal price. If you post the link ppl can check. What are they listing as the after sale price?
https://www.vulyplay.com/en-AU/monkey-bars
That's their current Christmas sale. Free delivery to some states, free shade cover (which is always included) and free basketball ring. The price of the large frame is $2k (increased from $1200 4 weeks ago).
@Laurenlauren: Nothing wrong there. They call it a sale but the sale is a value add. They add on certain bonus items to the total purchase. They don't show that the product is discounted etc so they're not pretending that the actual product is cheaper than their rrp. Honestly there's nothing to complain about here, other than the fact that its gone up on price, which is annoying. You might want to wait until after the sale with add ons. Maybe the basic unit will go down a little. Really depends how much you want it now.
@cookie2: Thanks. They're out of stock anyway so the decision is already made.
Problem is they added bonus items and jacked up the price to cover the sale costs.
No sale, $1200 free shipping.
Boxing day sale, $1500 free shipping and free basketball ring (worth $100).
Cyber Monday $1600 free shipping.
Christmas sale $2000 free shipping and free basketball ring.
@Laurenlauren: Who's to say the cost of manufacture hasn't gone up (like everything else)?
If the price comes down, then you know they were price jacking. For now, all it is is an increase in price.
Can sense the anger in your replies, but are you just angry at yourself for not just buying it at the $1200 price?
@spackbace: Sure, frustrated that I didn't buy it at the non-sale price, but I get pretty annoyed at sneaky marketing tactics too. I'll have to wait and see what happens with their pricing after the christmas 'sale'.
I'm going to buy from their competitor anyway.
I saw somewhere had a sale on Wusthof knives recently - cool. Went to check them out only to find they had jacked the price up to almost double and then with the 'discount' was still more than they were previously. How stupid do they think people are ffs?
Do I have any recourse with ACCC or consumer affairs for misleading advertising?
No, neither will do anything about your friend.
So will they do anything about misleading advertising, claiming a product is on sale when it's actually more expensive?
As I said above, ACCC doesn't act on individual complaints.
Why don't you take personal responsibility for your delay?
It's not your friend's fault, or the business' fault.
Not sure what you mean by this.
The product is not on sale for a lower price.
They then raise the price of the product and say it's 'on sale'.
Two almost MECE outcomes next year:
What if the price increases again in the New Year? You'll have egg on your face.
What if the price doesn't increase in the New Year and they get a fine and then have to bump up the price to cover the fine? You'll have shot yourself in the foot.
Report to UN Council of Human rights.
They will then on report to QATAR who may take decisive action.
Go after your friend for the price difference
Lesson learned: buy when you think it's good value
Probably not in the current world environment…it could legitimately be to short supply, increased shipping costs etc which may have seen the base price increase.