IT Warehouse operates a partly franchised chain of retailers of computer and electronic products. In 2004 IT Warehouse regularly promoted discount prices for certain digital cameras in its regular catalogues where no stock, or insufficient stock, was presently available, but orders were merely taken. In addition to consumer inconvenience, this advertising placed other retailers at an unfair competitive disadvantage with IT Warehouse.
IT Warehouse admitted this may have misled consumers in breach of s. 52. Further, IT Warehouse implemented a compliance program which was subject to external review over 3 years.
