Promotional flyer from local diy store and no items that I wanted available.

[TheDarkPrince]

I recently recieved a promotional flyer from a local independent diy store. I looked through the offers and found several items that I wanted to purchase.
I duly visited the shop and found that not one of the items that I wanted was on sale. I asked at the counter and was told that "at this time of the year, most of the items would be ordered in and would be available for collection in a couple of days". Surely this is false advertising. There was no mention of any of this in the flyer. So I wasted a load of my time and diesel going to the store. Has anyone had any experiences like this? And what could be done about it? Any thoughts?

[factor-fiction]

Don't go next time? Or ring up first?WRite to complain?
It is infuriating- it often happens with cheap deals at Netto.

[atalanta]

It seems to come very close to being illegal, but not to have stepped quite over the line. But it certainly sounds like sharp practice. Pity they don't see how many would-be purchasers they are alienating, who will never touch their store again, and will certainly warn all their friends and relatives not to do so, too. I bet they eventually lose more than they gain by this infuriating ploy.

[TheDarkPrince]

Many thanks for all your replies. Yes, the easy solution is not to shop there again and to make sure that everyone knows what they are up to.

[Twenty20]

Why is it 'false advertising'? Just because they don't have it in stock when you visit the store doesn't mean it's not for sale. Many stores don't keep everything in stock. It's certainly not illegal, how can it be? That would mean that every time a store has run out of stock that it is operating illegally.

Anyway, as you say it's a local store, you can't have wasted much time or 'diesel'.