False advertisement

I didn't know they sold toilet paper. They don't here.

My suggestion would be read terms and conditions

under product and services information I found this
"The receipt of an email order confirmation is simply a recognition
that we have received your requested order, and does not constitute an
offer to sell. We reserve the right to limit the quantity of any item
sold, or prohibit a sale altogether, including but not limited to
prohibiting sales to resellers. "

You are absolutely correct. They should give you what you ordered. It
seems too suspicious that they would cancel your order and give you
the opportunity to purchase it at full price.

I can see them saying sorry, it is no longer available period, as in
clearance. In this case, they should at least notify you it is
backordered and get more in, then send it to you.

It still is not bait and switch though. They may have baited you and
then switched something in a literal sense, it does not meet the legal
definition of the term. Bait and switch would apply where they did not
intend to offer the special at all. Even if they were planning on
offering a small number of packages for sale, then it would not be
bait and switch. If at least a few people got some, then it is not
illegal at all. Not a good business idea, as they are losing sales,
but perfectly legal.

It just occurred to me. Why would a company like Staples conduct
false advertisement on toilet paper, of all things?

Why not, I don't know, an All-In-One Office printer?

At a pack of toilet paper for $4.99 versus, I don't know, a regular
price of let's say $9.99, this ruse would have netted the company not
only bad will but $5.

With a printer, they could suck in maybe $30-40 on an equivalent
"scam".

I just noticed this was a one day sale. I still am of the opinion
they had a certain quantity, and once they realized it was sold out
they stopped the sale. We have seen web portals frequently do not
have accurate availability information. Hence orders were received
and processed for which ultimately there was no remaining supply.
Then the price returned to normal.

Turns out this is Marcal - some of the worst TP on Planet Earth, IMO.

I am a consumer as well, but you aren't going to get any sympathy from
me when an order for 256 rolls of TP falls through.

Web portals often do not reflect accurate inventory. I don't think
that is noble or great, just a fact of buying on the web. In my
opinion, it should be first come first serve. And if they only had 5
packs of toilet paper when the sale started, well, maybe I have been
brainwashed, because that wouldn't bother me one bit. I would get in
my F150, and go pick up 16 cases of TP at the store.

Unless I get my order accepted, receive a delivery date, have my debit
charged, and then find out, along with every single other person I
know who ordered there, that it was canceled.
I have six kids. We use a lot of TP, if you don't mind. Sorry we're
not sheryl crow. I wouldn't want to stand downwind of her, though. One
square of toilet paper? Really? Ew.

Because usually it isn't. It is fun to try to make the story told
into one that fits the definition.

On the forums I am a member of, 100% of my colleagues find the same
thing. I don't attend church.

They were out of stock because you and all your friends ordered
ridiculous amounts of toilet paper. way to go. Next time, they'll
just limit quantities.

And if you're out of TP, you can go anywhere in town to get that.

Unless the rep you talked to worked at the warehouse he would have no
clue if its in stock or not.

These types of sales where something is 75% off attract thousands if
not millions of people. So you are essentially fighting with tons of
other people.

Unless they have a web designer on staff it woudl be pretty hard to
update the site the second they run out.

think of it like one of those radio dial in contests. Do you know how
many other people you are competing against?