Bunnings Disappoints Customers by Cancelling Gym Equipment Sale

I just experienced what can only be described as a frustrating situation with Bunnings. After spotting what seemed like a great deal on a Brixx Power Bench and Leg Press, I placed my order promptly, only to receive an email claiming there was a “temporary error” on their website showing “incorrect pricing.”

The Convenient “Technical Error” Excuse

Bunnings claims their system “froze” due to high order volume, preventing orders from processing. They assure me I haven’t been charged, though they acknowledge a “temporary hold” was placed on my funds. It’s concerning that they discovered this “error” only after receiving an influx of orders at the advertised price.

Australian Consumer Law Questions

This situation raises serious questions about Bunnings’ obligations under Australian Consumer Law. When a retailer advertises a product at a specific price, they generally have an obligation to honor that price. The claim of a “pricing error” conveniently came after they had already accepted numerous orders.

Not My First Disappointment with Retailers

This isn’t the first time large retailers have used the “pricing error” excuse to avoid honoring advertised deals. The pattern is troubling: advertise at an attractive price, accept orders, then claim a “system error” when too many customers take advantage of what appeared to be a legitimate offer.

What Bunnings Should Have Done

A company truly committed to customer service would:

• Honor the advertised price for orders already placed
• Offer some form of compensation for the inconvenience
• Provide transparent communication about what actually happened

Instead, Bunnings chose to simply cancel orders with a generic email explaining away their mistake.

Moving Forward

I’ll be thinking twice before getting excited about any “deals” from Bunnings in the future. In the meantime, I’m researching my consumer rights regarding advertised pricing and whether this situation constitutes a case of false advertising.

Have you experienced similar situations with retailers backing out of advertised prices? I’d be interested to hear your experiences in the comments.

Note: This is my personal experience with Bunnings’ gym equipment sale cancellation. If you’ve been affected by this situation, you may want to contact your local consumer protection agency for advice.