Advertisment
The advertisement featured on DoneDeal stated:
“Plastic Barrels and Containers
220 litre blue steel barrels with bums €10
220 litre blue/grey new steel barrels with clamp lids €12
220 litre blue/yellow plastic barrels with bums €12
170 litre white plastic barrels with bums €12
60 litre blue plastic barrell with clamp lid €8
50 litre white plastic barrel with screw on lid €6
30 litre white plastic barrels with screw on lid €4
75 litre white drum €5
25 litre blue / black / white drums €2
stackable trays €2”
Complaint
The complainant considered the pricing in the advertisement to be misleading. He stated that a variety of items were advertised at prices such as €8 and €12. He said he was interested in buying several of them and rang the advertisers to confirm the items were still in stock. The complainant then drove 100km to collect the items and was advised they would cost him €20 each.
Response
The advertisers confirmed over the phone that they received the complaint. However, they failed to provide a response.
Conclusion
Complaint Upheld.
The Complaints Committee considered the details of the complaint. The Complaints Committee expressed concern at the advertisers’ failure to respond to the complaint. They reminded them that there is an onus on advertisers to ensure that their advertising is in conformity with the Code.
In the absence of a response from Centurion Stone the Committee concluded that the advertisement was in breach of Code sections 3.10, 4.1, 4.4, 4.9 4.10 and 4.27 of the Code.
ACTION REQUIRED: The advertisement should not be used in the same format again.
