who should be the first point of contact?

[adamhornsby]

Today, I went to Doncaster looking for a Wii Fit, I still haven't been able to find one, but in Woolies they had the advertisements at the entrance, so I was presuming they had them in stock, so I walk over to the games sections, and I see a sign says 'not in stock', and even downstairs they had another sign advertising the product, so this is blatant false advertising, and I'm wondering who my first port of contact should be to complain, how about the Trading Standards?

[fo3nix]

Read the advertising very carefully. In small print somewhere, there'll likely be some text saying to effect "If in stock."

[adamhornsby]

nope there wasnt anything like that, it was just promoting the product like the tv advert, but why should they be promoting it if the people in the shop know damn well they havent got any in stock?
could this be an issue for the advertising standards agency?

[Postdog]

Look on the bright side - you got exercise looking for one!

Just because they had none in stock doesn't mean they NEVER had them. These firms don't send out ad display stuff to firms that don't sell them. And the seller is hardly likely to remove the advertising if more are on order.

Had you rang up to ask, and they said yes, then I think ytou'd have a right to moan, but because they sold out - nah!

They had a similar display at my local woolies, but they had them.

[adamhornsby]

but they were advertising something they didnt have

[Postdog]

No, they were advertising something they DID have but had sold out of for the time being - not a crime or other issue. They could have sold out yesterday and today obviously no deliveries, so end of until they get them in. Do you really think they would waste time and money advertising something they weren't going to sell? I really can't understand the fuss you are making.

[Cakeboy]

Is your life really that empty that you feel you have to complain about something that's out of stock?

Look on ebay, there's plenty of them for sale

[Cakeboy]

As an addition, I saw an advert at the bus stop today for Grand Theft Auto, but when I got on the bus they didn't have any for sale. Who do I complain to about that?

What about advertising a film that isn't released yet - I can see the advert, but I can't watch it yet.

Good luck complaining and enjoy being laughed out of the office of whichever body you complain to.

False advertising is when a company is advertising something they can't deliver or have no intention of delivering. Woolies can give you the product and have every intention of selling it to you when they have them in stock

[sammy snake]

Our local video shop has posters up advertising films for rent - if one particular film is not in stock because someone has hired it, are you suggesting that they should take the poster down?

Supermarkets advertise special offers, they don't remove the advertising material as soon as it sells out because maybe they are expecting more stock to arrive shortly.

[shylock73]

I went to Woolies today and that is in Parkstone in Poole and they also had a notice as you walked in saying Out of Stock.

[squarebear]

Yes ours say "out of stock" too. You even said yourself the sign said "Not in stock".

If you're that desperate to get fit why not buy a skipping rope?

[Archburner]

Adam,
While I sympathise with your frustration, you've got a computer mate! Not only will it tell you where you can pick up such an item, but also give you the best price.
However, having said that for a shop to 'advertise' something they haven't got for whatever reason I think is criminal. I know some shops like Virgin magastores take a pro- active and display the fact that they've run out of popular items. Postdog doesn't understand us humans.