On 1/30/2012 8:15 AM, Invisible wrote:
> Well, there's a thing...
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait-and-switch
>
> "In the United States, [...] no cause of action will exist if the
> purveyor is capable of actually selling the goods advertised."
>
> "In England and Wales it is banned [...] Breaking this law can result in
> a criminal prosecution, an unlimited fine and two years in jail."
>
> You would have thought deliberate deception was illegal everywhere, but
> apparently not...

In some areas of the U.S. the merchant is required to issue a rain check 
to any customer who shows up during the advertised sale period, enabling 
them to buy a like item when it does come into stock.  In some areas 
putting the phrase "limited quantity" in the advertisement relieves the 
merchant of this obligation (but it also gives the customer warning that 
there may not be any when they get to the store).

It goes without saying that consumers already have a remedy for 
bait-and-switch merchants:  Refuse to buy their merchandise.

Regards,
John
(who is not a lawyer)

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