HOM Furniture ~ Deceptive Advertising Practices!
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My husband and I had been looking for a couch for about a year and weren’t finding what we were looking for in terms of style, comfort and affordability. Finally a couple of months ago I discovered a very affordable and comfortable microfiber couch from HOM Furniture. My husband hadn’t had a chance to see the couch so when the subject came up again this past Saturday, we decided to go take a look with the kids.
As we were walking in the store, signs were plastered all over with Ice Age 3 characters that read “FREE ICE AGE 3 GIFT PACK with ANY $499 purchase!”
And while we weren’t necessarily ready to commit, I pushed the issue. If we are going to buy this $600 couch anyway, why not buy it when we can get the Ice Age 3 gift package with a $92 value?? Since it is on sale as well it seemed like the perfect time to buy.
So we took the plunge and purchased the couch. At the end of the transaction I asked about the Ice Age 3 promotion items and was told this purchase was not eligible because it was listed as a “Colossal Buy”. Which of course means nothing to me. I would have assumed perhaps clearance items or gift cards weren’t included. But given that every sign in the store said ANY purchase, I assume that means ANY purchase. Any does mean any right? Any does not mean only some $499 purchases. It does not imply your $499 may be eligible. It implies that if you make a $499 purchase, no matter what, you get the Ice Age 3 promotion items.
But I must be mistaken. Maybe I am not clear on the definition of any since that is exactly how it was advertised in their store signage.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of any: unmeasured or unlimited in amount, number, or extent
Hmm…that sounds like I should have walked out of Hom Furniture with an Ice Age 3 gift, does it not?
Now, to their credit, I did find in their ad in the teeniest, tiniest print that Colossal Buys were not included in the promotion. But that exclusion isn’t what is really irking me here. What really started to piss me off as I left Hom Furniture is that all the signage says ANY and there is no verbage indicating exclusions. While there was an asterisk with “see store for details” or “see store associate for details” they left out anything that would tell a consumer that not every (which is implied by the word any) $499 purchase or more was eligible.
To not be deceptive to the consumer, the word any should not be used. They should have simply stated that with a $499 purchase you can get a Ice Age 3 promotion package and included the following, “*Some exclusions apply. See store associate for details.” That’s it. That is all that I would expect from a company that is upfront and honest in their advertising. It indicates that if I am to make a purchase perhaps influenced by this free gift, I should probably double check to be certain I qualify. But leaving out the this disclaimer and using the word “any” in their verbage is clearly deceptive marketing practices. One that made me angrier and angrier after I left the store. At this point it isn’t about the free gift I thought I was getting and now am not. It is the principal of false advertising.
My couch is currently on order and I am seriously contemplating not continuing with the purchase. Which is actually sad since it took so long to find what we wanted. At the same time, I loathe companies using shady marketing tactics and cringe even thinking about giving my business to these types of companies.
I can’t be alone in being sick and tired of being treated in this manner. Lure me in with a special or deal and then take it away. HOM Furniture, you should be ashamed of these practices!
Update: HOM Furniture did reach out to me on 11/16 offering their regrets about my experience and offering me the Ice Age 3 Gift Pack.
Wow! I hope you don’t mind me commenting on the response that Mr. Underwood posted on your blog but I had such a strong reaction to his letter to you!
I truly hope that Mr. Underwood reads this response. First and foremost I would hope that an executive director of marketing would proof read before posting an official letter that is to be read publicly. Secondly, the aggressive and accusatory tone did not convey a sense of remorse for his company’s mistake that caused you so much frustration and anger.
I can’t believe that he would post that and assume it was mea culpa. He completely plays down his company’s mistake and instead takes the time to chastise you for posting on your own blog your feelings about the situation!
I am totally floored at this! If he had written a truly apologetic letter that had addressed your concerns I would have felt better about his company. Instead, I’m now feeling that this isn’t a good organization to work with. Hopefully you don’t have more problems with your couch than the prize pack because I don’t know if they’re a company with strong customer service.
Sorry for the rant!
We purchased our microfiber couch, a nice soft plush couch from Rooms To Go a year and a half ago, it was GREAT in the show room and I was certain that I would love it forever. I do not. Microfiber in the winter leads to static shocks ALL THE TIME. If you have a pet expect them to look like they licked a wall socket. Seriously it’s terrible. If the Ice Age pack ordeal wasn’t enough to make you run contemplate Frankenstein hair! I say take your business elsewhere. The BEST place to buy furniture IMO is JCPenney, they have (and stand by) their sale prices which are phenomenal and carry good warranties that they uphold rather than places like Rooms To Go who build cheap, fast and don’t uphold warranties to save their life.
Knowing me, I would have cancelled the order even before I walked out of the store, even if the furniture piece was exactly what I was looking for.
Then if they asked why, I’d just lay it out there, that I thought it was deceptive marketing practices. I point all over their signs and show them that no where was Any listed with at least in as big as print, WITH EXCLUSIONS SUCH AS COLOSSIAL BUYS. I’d also ask where on this piece of furniture does it say COLOSSIAL BUY excluded from free ticket promotion?
I’m happy to hear they offered you the incentive after all.
So…What did you do? I have to agree I would have cancelled before I walked out the door. Hubby would have too! My inlaws just had a HORRIBLE experiene with Rooms R US down south!
Text is hard to read. I actually didn’t get the harsh feeling in his letter that Lindsay did.
Gurl I would have been ticked off… I hate when they do that whole tiny fkn print and you can’t see it! WTF… oh so lucky it was a rican.. I would have gone off….I know crazy but that is just me…
I would have cancelled the order and LOL…….
Good luck!
My little man would love the Haunted Pirate Ship!
Update- Hom furniture has deceptive advertising.The free 120 sleep guarantee is not free and does not honor the pricing when you purchased your mattress. Be sure to read what you are signing because you will not be told before your purchase.There is a $170.00 exchange fee for delivery and the current pricing is $525.00 more than at the time of purchase. We have not had a good nights sleep in almost 30 days, which is the minimum number of days they require you to keep the bed, and now we are stuck with the mattress until we find a solution.