Mitre 10 slammed by ACCC for misleading sale promotion

Hardware giant Mitre 10 has been slammed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after it admitted it failed to tell customers that many of its products were excluded from its “20% off storewide” sale in February this year.

The consumer watchdog raised concerns with Mitre 10 that its TV ads promoting the sale – which ran on almost 900 occasion across two days – failed to disclose that a number of products were not included in the sale, held on 13 and 14 February.

These products included fuel, agricultural products, tool hire, kitchen and bathroom packages, large kitchen appliances, trade, building materials, café, special orders and gift cards.

The TV ads did include text referring to “terms and conditions in store”, but did not say what these were. The internet advertising on Mitre 10’s home page did not refer to any terms and conditions.

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said in a statement that companies must ensure terms and conditions applicable to any sale are disclosed to consumers and any exclusions are clearly defined.

The ACCC has accepted court-enforceable undertakings from Mitre 10 that it will not repeat the conduct and will implant a “rigorous and comprehensive” trade practices compliance program.