Tesco was ‘untruthful’

Surely not Tescos?

Oh yes, according to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Complaints were made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in December 2008 about the way Tesco advertised plans to build a branch in Manningtree.

The ASA has published its findings, and upheld two of the four complaints.

Tesco was found to have made an unsubstantiated and misleading claim. The chain said it was "disappointed".

Four complaints were made about claims made in the leaflet distributed to people living in Manningtree and the surrounding area.

In the leaflet Tesco said a survey by the company had shown there was "a need and a demand for a new food store to serve the Manningtree/Lawford/Mistley area".

However only 8.6% (38 out of 440 respondents) said they wanted and needed a new food store.

The ASA said this was misleading.

One might call it about as honest as Tescos claim that it does not avoid tax.

8.6% of peiople might agree with that claim too.

91.4% might not.

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4 Responses

Stuart Jones says:

August 28 2009 at 9:53 am

What has happened to straight-talking in this country? Tesco lied (full stop).
- Richard Murphy says:
  
  August 28 2009 at 10:23 am
  
  Stuart
  
  Lord Justice Eady
  
  Court 13
  
  High Courts of Justice
  
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/profiles/3453978/Profile-Mr-Justice-Eady-defender-of-the-nations-privacy.html
  
  He’s made lied a very dangerous word
  
  And we’ve all lost out as a result
  
  But I doubt he’ll sue me for saying so
  
  But I can’t be sure
  
  And that’s the problem
  
  Because telling the truth is not OK now
  
  And that has to be wrong
  
  But you know who to blame
  
  Richard
Tax Research UK » The Isle of Man must really tell the truth says:

August 28 2009 at 12:48 pm

[…] not an endearing trait, but it puts him in the company of people like Tescos when it comes to inability to use statistics with any degree of […]
Henry Law says:

August 28 2009 at 11:37 pm

Tesco’s is essentially a property empire which enjoys an oligarchical (ie near monopoly) position within UK retailing. Consequently it can put the squeeze on customers and producers, and a significant proportion of its profits consist of economic rent of land.

Need one say more?