Description:
An online advertisement promoting a 40% sale featured a specific bag.
Complaint:
The complainant challenged the accuracy of the representation, after being informed by the advertiser that the item featured in the advertisement was excluded from the 40% offer.
Response:
In its response to Council, the advertiser explained that the bag in question was included by mistake due to an auto-generated tool that automatically populates promotional items. The advertiser confirmed that bags, as a category, were not part of the promotion and confirmed that additional internal measures were taken to prevent similar issues in the future.
Decision:
Council appreciated the advertiser’s response and considered it together with the complaint.
Given the Code violation was obvious and acknowledged by the advertiser, Council determined that further debate of the complaint’s merits was not necessary. Council unanimously found a violation of Clause 1(a) of the Code, as the advertisement created a misleading and inaccurate impression.
Infraction:
Clause 1(a)
