So called specials!

[matt_za]

Rant start

What really grinds my gears is these places that put stuff on special and then it disappears due to "no stock left".

This has happened to me 3 times now in the last month. You see a good special and check the details "valid 15 July to 15 August". Since these are big ticket items i like to think about these things and not rush into it. You come back and BAM!!! its gone. Case in point PS4 on takealot sold out after no time at all and the ipad special with standard bank not even lasting 25% of the time it was meant to last before being replaced with a android tablet.

My point is that these places just want the traffic that the special causes to there site but then are not willing to stick with the special that is causing the increased traffic flow. I bet you that takealot's electronics and gaming section is getting increased views today even though the ps4 special has ended. If i was more of a troll this is where i would start searching through the cpa for something

Rant ends

 

[aybbleek]

The actual problem here is that you have been conditioned by a consumerism culture that makes you believe that these items, their supposed value and availability should have any relevance in your life as a human being or your advancement as a member of singularity.

 

[Pooky]

It's irritating but wasn't it just because the PS4's sold out?

 

[akescpt]

The actual problem here is that you have been conditioned by a consumerism culture that makes you believe that these items, their supposed value and availability should have any relevance in your life as a human being or your advancement as a member of singularity.

what he said.

:wtf:

 

[Hemi300c]

I think it's mainly just to attract consumers to the "store".

 

[Greig Whitton]

If i was more of a troll this is where i would start searching through the cpa for something.

The relevant provisions within the Consumer Protection Act is Section 30 ("Bait Marketing"). The gist of it is that suppliers are bound by the limits that they set for promotions. However, they are permitted to supply equivalent products or services in lieu of those promoted so long as they do so at the advertised price.

So if Takealot promotes PS4s at a specific price for a specific time frame, then they are legally bound to provide PS4s at that price during that time frame. They can, however, substitute the PS4s with an equivalent product (e.g. if they run out of stock).

The obvious "get out of jail card" is to include that most cliched of marketing provisions - "while stock lasts" - in the promotion. Personally, I think that this undermines the spirit of the Consumer Protection Act, but as far as I can tell it is technically legal.

 

[ngwe23]

Dude get a life. Obviously if it is on special demand will go high. And i am sure I addition to the time limit for the special they usually add that while "stocks last". And yes the point to a special is to drive traffic to the store and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Greig Whitton]

The actual problem here is that you have been conditioned by a consumerism culture that makes you believe that these items, their supposed value and availability should have any relevance in your life as a human being or your advancement as a member of singularity.

Or maybe the real problem here has nothing to do with material goods and everything to do with an unprincipled brand breaking their promise and undermining the very expectations that they created.

 

[aybbleek]

Or maybe the real problem here has nothing to do with material goods and everything to do with an unprincipled brand breaking their promise and undermining the very expectations that they created.

If it was food or water I would understand, but no-one in this world needs a PS4 or an iPad. They are marketed specifically to induce a feeling of exclusivity to the owner, which they are clearly doing quite well.

 

[ngwe23]

Or maybe the real problem here has nothing to do with material goods and everything to do with an unprincipled brand breaking their promise and undermining the very expectations that they created.

Please don't be s dramatic. lol. No one owes him anything. There should be no expectation on his part that he should get the special esp. after thinking "about these things and not rush into it"(Which I admire BTW). Stock runs out he should deal with it.

 

[HibiscusTunes]

Wise words!

The actual problem here is that you have been conditioned by a consumerism culture that makes you believe that these items, their supposed value and availability should have any relevance in your life as a human being or your advancement as a member of singularity.

 

[Greig Whitton]

There should be no expectation on his part that he should get the special esp. after thinking "about these things and not rush into it"(Which I admire BTW). Stock runs out he should deal with it.

So it's fine for companies to promise whatever they like with no intention of delivering as promised and then hide behind the "out of stock" excuse?

 

[ngwe23]

So it's fine for companies to promise whatever they like with no intention of delivering as promised and then hide behind the "out of stock" excuse?

Obviously that would be wrong but I am pretty sure Takealot, in this case, had every intention of delivering and stocks ran out. Surely you cannot expect them to keep supplying beyond their stock level? I am pretty sure if OP had taken advantage of the special sooner he would have gotten it.

 

[Bighit]

There were still 16 left when I checked at 8am. In any event, I don't quite trust those Daily Deals. The PS4 camera was on for like R850 or R799 on a daily special. The same camera sells for R723 as normal price on Raru.

 

[Greig Whitton]

Obviously that would be wrong but I am pretty sure Takealot, in this case, had every intention of delivering and stocks ran out.

Maybe they did and maybe they didn't. My point is, we have consumer rights to keep companies honest. Discouraging people from exercising those rights by presenting a lack of stock as their fault - and not even considering the possibility of irresponsible or exploitative business practice - is not helpful.

Surely you cannot expect them to keep supplying beyond their stock level?

No, but I do expect them to ensure that they adequately stocked for expected demand - which they surely would have anticipated before running the promotion. At the very least, I would expect them to have a backup plan (e.g. a waiting list for when fresh stock is received) instead of just turning around and saying "sorry, we're all sold out".

I am pretty sure if OP had taken advantage of the special sooner he would have gotten it.

I'm pretty sure that he would have gotten his PS4 if Takealot had stuck to their own time frame as they promised.

 

[kolaval]

It happens in checkers etc with normal groceries as well.
Drives me insane

 

[ichigo]

Rant start

What really grinds my gears is these places that put stuff on special and then it disappears due to "no stock left".

This has happened to me 3 times now in the last month. You see a good special and check the details "valid 15 July to 15 August". Since these are big ticket items i like to think about these things and not rush into it. You come back and BAM!!! its gone. Case in point PS4 on takealot sold out after no time at all and the ipad special with standard bank not even lasting 25% of the time it was meant to last before being replaced with a android tablet.

My point is that these places just want the traffic that the special causes to there site but then are not willing to stick with the special that is causing the increased traffic flow. I bet you that takealot's electronics and gaming section is getting increased views today even though the ps4 special has ended. If i was more of a troll this is where i would start searching through the cpa for something

Rant ends

One reason why I order the item and choose eft to book stock until I decide what to do.

 

[ngwe23]

Maybe they did and maybe they didn't. My point is, we have consumer rights to keep companies honest. Discouraging people from exercising those rights by presenting a lack of stock as their fault - and not even considering the possibility of irresponsible or exploitative business practice - is not helpful.

None of his rights as a consumer were violated. I don't know why you are immediately jumping to the conclusion that it was not their intention to deliver to begin with.

No, but I do expect them to ensure that they adequately stocked for expected demand - which they surely would have anticipated before running the promotion. At the very least, I would expect them to have a backup plan (e.g. a waiting list for when fresh stock is received) instead of just turning around and saying "sorry, we're all sold out".

They would do that to a reasonable extent. I dont image that Takealot ran a special without stock. Perhaps they wanted to clear old inventory in anticipation of new inventory, hence the "while stocks last" clause. What is wrong with that?

I'm pretty sure that he would have gotten his PS4 if Takealot had stuck to their own time frame as they promised.

Which promise is that? :wtf:

 

[Greig Whitton]

None of his rights as a consumer were violated.

We all have a right to fair and honest marketing, as established by the Consumer Protection Act. If Takealot engaged in bait marketing, then OP's consumer rights were violated.

I don't know why you are immediately jumping to the conclusion that it was not their intention to deliver to begin with.

My exact words were "maybe they did and maybe they didn't". My point is that Takealot might be at fault, in contrast to the other posts blaming OP for not acting quickly enough even though he acted within the time frame provided by Takealot.

Perhaps they wanted to clear old inventory in anticipation of new inventory, hence the "while stocks last" clause. What is wrong with that?

Nothing is legally wrong with that, but it creates a loophole whereby companies can engage in bait marketing and hide behind the "out of stock" excuse. In my opinion, "while stock lasts" is a vague cop out. If Takealot had stated in their promotion that they had a specific number of PS4s available and that it would be first come first served, then I would have no problem with them turning customers away after exhausting their stock. But, according to OP, this was not the case. According to OP, Takealot promised PS4s at a specific price for a specific time frame and then broke their promise by turning away customers who applied within their time frame.

 

[Jason3643]

usually Takealot says on there promotions how many of that item is still available ..so its not there fault ...