Aldi might be breaking the law with its Special Buys products
Anyone who’s missed out on a product featured in one of Aldi’s Special Buys sales would know how frustrating it can be to rock up to the supermarket minutes after the chaos, only to find out that everything’s already been sold out.
The German retailer has made a name for itself Down Under with the Special Buys sales, which, “can include anything from electronics, like LCD TVs and DVD players, to clothing and furniture”, according to the Aldi website.
But shoppers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the discount supermarket, to the point where many are suggesting that there may be an element of foul play.
This was the focus of an investigation on ABC’s The Checkout this week, which looks at Aldi’s Special Buys product system, and asked if it violates Australian Consumer Law.
The investigation refers to Australian Consumer Law where the practice of “bait advertising”, or advertising goods that aren’t available in reasonable quantities, is illegal.
The law states that “businesses who advertise goods must offer such goods in quantities that are reasonable... and they shouldn’t advertise if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the business will not be able to offer those goods for a period that is reasonable”.
Presenter Scott Abbot asks: “How come Aldi have so much crap you don’t want (such as a unicycle) but almost none of what you actually need?”
Abbot then suggests the fine print should read: “While stocks last. Please note stocks are limited and will vary between stores. Despite our careful planning we apologise if selected stocks may sell out on the first day, due to unexpected high demand.”
An Aldi Australia spokesperson told News.com.au, “driving demand and disappointing customers by not supplying enough stock is categorically not part of our business model”.
“We are a retailer and we are in the business of selling as many products as we can. On occasions, our products are in high demand and sellout faster than anticipated. In our business, this is not a win. We would always prefer to correctly balance the demand with the supply of stock and we consistently strive to achieve this balance.”