Online 'bait trading' claim

The Warehouse has been accused of 'bait trading'

Discount chain The Warehouse is being accused of "bait trading" after a customer complained a sofa he bought online was not in stock.

Samuel Gwynnhas blasted the discount chain on its Facebook page after he bought a $300 three-seater sofa, had money debited from his account only to have the order cancelled due to "unforeseen circumstances".

"Shame on the warehouse online store!!!purchased 'Living & Co Liberty Sofa 3 Seater Grey' which was offered on red alert deals website ... they happy took my money straight away yet apparently had to cancel my order for 'unforeseen circumstances' ... and now I'm without my money for 5 days while a refund is processed," he posted.

He claimed it was not fair trading.

Other customers on the Facebook page posted this was not an isolated incident, complaining they had also been left temporarily out of pocket after buying goods online that were not in stock.

Posted Janet Reynolds: "This has happened to me more than twice, with completely different excuses each time - ridiculous!"

Bait trading is when goods and services are advertised but cannot be supplied in order to lure people into the shop. It is in breach of consumer law.

After making the initial complaint, Mr Gwynn said the company had contacted him and he would be receiving his bargain sofa after all.

The Warehouse spokeswoman Julia Morton told Fairfax the wrong quantity of available stock had been listed on the company website in error. NZME