Description:
A grocery store’s mobile application promoted 3 free items redeemable in store as exclusive rewards.
Complaint:
The complainant claimed the advertisement misrepresented their opportunity to receive one of the three free products, claiming the advertiser refused to honour the promotional offer when the complainant tried to redeem the product in store.
Response:
In its response to Council, the advertiser advised that, as a result of an IT issue, the online advertisement promoted certain flavours of the free product that some stores were not immediately able to offer. The advertiser also confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved promptly after they became aware of it.
Decision:
Council appreciated the advertiser’s response, and considered the complaint
together with the advertiser’s submission.
Given that the Code violation was obvious, and that the advertiser
acknowledged there was a technical issue with the advertisement that had been fixed, Council determined a debate of the complaint’s merits was not necessary and held that there was a violation of Clause 1(a) and (b) of the Code.
Infraction:
Clause 1(a) and (b)
