Advertisment
A sponsored post on Facebook for Body Shape Performance stated:
“Who said losing weight was boring?
TAKE A SPIN AND SEE WHAT BODY CHANGING PRIZE YOU’LL WIN!
Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or a barbell beginner, all you have to do is hit this link >>http://bodyshapeperformance.com/spin-to-win/<< to be in with a chance of winning 1 of the following incredible (AND FREE) prizes with us:
Four prizes were listed including a 2 Day FREE Personal Training Programme, a FREE 1-2- Nutrition Consultation, a Free 60 Minute 1-2-1 Personal Training session and
1 Week FREE Gym Trial – Access our premium facility and equipment for a whole week. This doesn’t include any 1-2-1 time with our coaches, but of course they’re always on hand to help.
Complaint
The complainant stated that the gym was strictly a personal training gym and that only people who were there for personal training were allowed access to the gym. The description of “1 Week FREE Gym Trial” prize however stated it did not include ‘any 1-2-1 time with our coaches’. After enquiring, the complainant was advised that the winner of the gym trial would need to agree to attend personal training sessions for the trial week. As this was not stated in the sponsored post, the complainant considered that the advertising was misleading.
Response
The advertisers stated that the complaint was false as their gym was a personal training gym only. They said that their advertising was correct and offered a free week of training, meaning personal training, which was supervised and not a free week of coming without supervision to their gym.
Conclusion
Complaint Upheld.
The Complaints Committee considered the detail of the complaint and the advertisers’ response. The Committee noted that the offer of a free 1 week gym trial had specifically stated that it did not include any one-to-one time with their coaches. The Committee considered that, as presented, prospective entrants would reasonably understand that were they to win the prize they could attend the gym and use the equipment without having to book or avail of personal 1-2-1 coaching. As the advertisers had not provided any information to substantiate that the prize awarded was as advertised, the Committee considered that the advertising was misleading and in breach of the Code.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The advertising must not reappear in its current form.
