CFTC Orders Game Discount World (Malawi) to Cease and Desist from Publishing Misleading Adverts

The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) ordered Game discount World (Malawi) limited, popularly known as Game stores to cease and desist from publishing misleading adverts.

At its 38th meeting held on 31st January, 2014 the Commission heard that Game discount World (Malawi) advertised discounted prices for Seagate external hard drives of capacity 1TB from 19-22 September 2013. However, customers who turned up when the promotion started were told that this item was not in stock. Similarly, discounted prices for external hard drives of capacity 1 TB and 2 TB were also advertised for the promotion run from 26 September to 6 October 2013. Yet when the promotion started on 26 September, these items were also reported to be out of stock.

The Commission found that by offering goods at discounted prices, in the local papers and promotional leaflets, which were out of stock, Game Stores engaged in an unfair trading practice in contravention of Section 43(1) (d) of the Act through. Section 43(1) (d) of the Act clearly prohibits business entities from engaging in conduct that is likely to mislead the public as to the nature, price, availability, characteristics, suitability for a given purpose, quantity or quality of any products or services.

The Board therefore ordered Game discount World (Malawi) to Issue a press release apologizing to all customers who were affected by its decision to publish misleading advertisements.