Advertisment
The advertisement which featured on a third party website featured a picture of a trailer complete with mesh sides and a spare wheel and was accompanied by the following information.
Trailer 8’6″ x 4’1″ single axle trailer – €960
also available with mesh sides ,with extra sides ,with tarpaulin.
All general purpose trailers for sale are factory made to a very high standard, fully galvanised, have full regulation trailer lighting and come with a jockey wheel.
All Trailers come in:
– Removable Mesh sides
– Ec Certificate of conformity
– manufactures warranty
– fully road legal…”
Complaint
The complainant said that the trailer as depicted in the advertisement, complete with mesh sides and spare wheel, was not €960 as indicated but rather came with a price tag of €1,260. The price of €960 only covered the cost of a basic trailer, excluding the mesh sides and spare wheel.
Response
The advertisers said that the first line of their advertising had featured the price of a trailer and they had never indicated that the trailer complete with mesh sides cost €960. They said they had many different types of trailers for sale which they provided information on to their customers when they made enquiries.
Conclusion
Complaint upheld.
The Complaints Committee considered the detail of the complaint and the advertisers’ response. They pointed out that the Code requires that prices and illustrated products should match. While a ‘from’ entry level price may be given, if the illustrated product has a higher price that should also be given in the advertisement. While the Committee noted that the product descriptor referred to the availability of extras, no indication was given that the illustrated product was not available for the price stated, the Committee therefore considered that the advertisement had breached Sections 4.1, 4.4 and 4.9 of the Code.
The advertising should not be used in its current format again.
