So called specials!

Greig Whitton said:
...
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)...
Click to expand...

and what would be an equivalent product?
 
satanboy said:
and what would be an equivalent product?
Click to expand...

Possibly an alternative console (e.g. Xbox), but I don't know a great deal about the technology so I can't comment with any confidence. Obviously there may be some product lines where no reasonable equivalent exists. Suppliers also have the option of sourcing out-of-stock product from another supplier to comply with the promotion regulations.
 
Greig Whitton said:
Possibly an alternative console (e.g. Xbox), but I don't know a great deal about the technology so I can't comment with any confidence. Obviously there may be some product lines where no reasonable equivalent exists. Suppliers also have the option of sourcing out-of-stock product from another supplier to comply with the promotion regulations.
Click to expand...

Other merchants have specials on PS4s, just get one there if you need one so desperately? Are we that lazy that we can't even look around for another deal anymore?
 
Thanks for the cpa info

Just checked now and its amazing. Takealot has stock of PS4's at normal price but the ones at special are sold out. Never realised there was a difference..
 
matt_za said:
Just checked now and its amazing. Takealot has stock of PS4's at normal price but the ones at special are sold out. Never realised there was a difference..
Click to expand...

Exactly. Organise a promotion to send demand through the roof, claim that you are sold out, and then quietly re-introduce the stock that was always available. It's exploitative marketing 101. But, of course, it's not the supplier's fault - it's your fault for not applying earlier.
 
Or they were trying to get rid of excess stock in their warehouse?

But no, let's assume the worst because we're entitled to luxuries.
 
specials always come with the condition "while stocks last", which you probably missed. as it's been said, the specials usually have higher demand and if you don't act fast enough, it will be sold out. Much like my local spar had a special on bacon, by the time I got there, sold out. Do I moan about it? No. Because a few weeks/months down the line there will be another special.
 
envo said:
specials always come with the condition "while stocks last", which you probably missed.
Click to expand...

The "while stocks last" issue was raised earlier in this thread - as were concerns over how it can be used as a fallback excuse to mask exploitative marketing that does not comply with the Consumer Protection Act.
 
For normal PnP,Checkers and Spar specials, when not available in the advertised timeframe, get their rainchecks and they will give it at the special price when available again.
 
Greig Whitton said:
Exactly. Organise a promotion to send demand through the roof, claim that you are sold out, and then quietly re-introduce the stock that was always available. It's exploitative marketing 101. But, of course, it's not the supplier's fault - it's your fault for not applying earlier.
Click to expand...

Not quite, different stock might land in South Africa at a different Rate of Exchange, resulting in absorbing the higher original stock price into the new stock at a lower ROE. They might only be able to do this with say 50 units to have a competitive price and not sit with expensive stock that they can't move.
 
aybbleek said:
They might only be able to do this with say 50 units to have a competitive price and not sit with expensive stock that they can't move.
Click to expand...

That's fine, but then state that only 50 units are available. Hiding behind the "while stocks last" provision is lazy at best and manipulative at worst.
 
Greig Whitton said:
Exactly. Organise a promotion to send demand through the roof, claim that you are sold out, and then quietly re-introduce the stock that was always available. It's exploitative marketing 101. But, of course, it's not the supplier's fault - it's your fault for not applying earlier.
Click to expand...

It is the suppliers fault. Takealot negotiates a special price with suppliers for a specific number of stock, no more. This happens with A LOT with high demand items like games and consoles. So even if Takealot have stock today after the sale was sold out yesterday, it doesn't mean they can offer the item at the same special price.
 
KaMoS said:
It is the suppliers fault. Takealot negotiates a special price with suppliers for a specific number of stock, no more. This happens with A LOT with high demand items like games and consoles. So even if Takealot have stock today after the sale was sold out yesterday, it doesn't mean they can offer the item at the same special price.
Click to expand...

Exactly this. Same goes for groceries, for example Clover might offer Spar 1000 cases of milk at a low price (either for promotion, or to move stock, or to hit some monthly sales target) and hence that is the number of that Spar can offer at a discounted price (otherwise they be running a loss).

When it is "one per customer only" there are complaints, when stocks run out, there are complaints.
I don't deny that some retailers will use bait advertising tactics, but often it is simply limited stock, or limited stock at a good exchange rate, or end of life items, or to hit some monthly or annual target for cashflow to order new stock.
 
Carnajo said:
I don't deny that some retailers will use bait advertising tactics, but often it is simply limited stock, or limited stock at a good exchange rate, or end of life items, or to hit some monthly or annual target for cashflow to order new stock.
Click to expand...

Again, there is nothing wrong with this. But suppliers have a legal responsibility to state those limits when running a promotion. Stating "while stocks last" when the supplier knows that there is a specific, finite stock limit is lazy marketing and legally questionable.
 
Greig Whitton said:
Again, there is nothing wrong with this. But suppliers have a legal responsibility to state those limits when running a promotion. Stating "while stocks last" when the supplier knows that there is a specific, finite stock limit is lazy marketing and legally questionable.
Click to expand...

No they don't. The "while stocks last" clause is good enough from a legal point of view.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X