A few days ago, gamers were outraged at UK online retailer SimplyGames for forcing them to upgrade their PlayStation 4 preorders into bundles. Now consumer advocate Trading Standards is decrying the company for their “illegal” action.
”You can have a contract where the price agreed is the price at the time of delivery, such as a new car on a long waiting list. Here the seller cannot control the product price months down the line,” stated a representative from the group. ”This appears to be profiteering. The seller is raising the price hoping people either drop out or pay more. If they drop out the seller can resell at a higher price to another customer”.
Another term would be “bait and switch”.
The retailer seems to be defiant as well, as company director Neil Muspratt flatly stated the company would keep the preorder mandate in place, and that ”it’s just commentators who have stirred it up”.
Trading Standards had this response: ”It is illegal and up to the Home Authority to intervene if the seller is UK based. This is one of those occasions when swift injunctive action is needed to prevent consumers being ripped off.”
