Latest news with #Covid-19-pandemic
1News
21-07-2025
- Business
- 1News
Noel Leeming charged over alleged Fair Trading Act breaches
Technology and appliance retailer Noel Leeming says it is "baffled" and "perplexed" by the Commerce Commission filing charges alleging it misled consumers on its promise to match prices. The Commerce Commission announced it had filed criminal charges in the Auckland District Court against the wholly-owned subsidiary of The Warehouse Group Limited, alleging it had breached the Fair Trading Act. Deputy chairperson Anne Callinan said its "price promise had many limitations and conditions which weren't made obvious to customers". "For over a decade Noel Leeming has prominently promoted their 'Price Promise,' which is their commitment to match any competitors' price. We believe their price promise claim was misleading and in breach of the Fair Trading Act," she said. "Price match advertising gives the impression that customers will be able to show up and get a match for competitor's prices. It's crucial that businesses promoting any price match offer factor in the overall impression of the claims they make, and that all information is clear to customers." The Commission has also filed charges against Noel Leeming regarding promotions where the advertised product or price was different to what could be purchased, and allege the company gave incorrect or misleading information about consumers' rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act when customers complained about faulty products. Callinan said Noel Leeming had previously been "one of our most complained about traders, and we were concerned about the range of issues consumers raised". Noel Leeming's chief operating officer Jason Bell said the company was "baffled" by the decision to press charges. "We firmly maintain that we have committed no offence and will vigorously defend this," he said in a statement. Bell said "our terms and conditions are fair and presented just like other retailers, and when we can't price match, we often don't get the sale". "We're perplexed by the Commission's claim that price matches were difficult to obtain, when over 250,000 Kiwis saved money with our Price Promise between 2019-2021. "Price matching is widely used by the industry, and it helps drive competition, and without it, Kiwis will end up paying more. He said if the business doesn't get something right, it would work hard to ensure fair resolutions for our customers. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, Mama Hooch rapists appeal, Ukraine's new message to Russia, and Jason Momoa's plans here. (Source: Breakfast) "Some of the additional matters raised by the Commission occurred during the Covid-19-pandemic, when all businesses experienced unprecedented pressure, and our team went to extraordinary lengths to help Kiwis access the products they needed, handling over ten million transactions. "It is concerning that significant public resources and time have been spent on this matter for over three years, while overlooking more pressing potential harm to consumers from overseas online retailers operating outside of the rules. The system needs to evolve and hold all retailers selling to New Zealanders to the same standards of care." Callinan said "price match advertising gives the impression that customers will be able to show up and get a match for competitor's prices. "It's crucial that businesses promoting any price match offer factor in the overall impression of the claims they make, and that all information is clear to customers." The maximum penalty for breaches of the Fair Trading Act, is $600,000 per charge for businesses.
Scoop
20-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Response From Noel Leeming On Commerce Commission Charges
This morning the Commerce Commission has announced charges against Noel Leeming, below is our response which can be attributed to Jason Bell, Chief Operating Officer, Noel Leeming: "We're baffled by the Commerce Commission's decision to press charges. We firmly maintain that we have committed no offence and will vigorously defend this. We're perplexed by the Commission's claim that price matches were difficult to obtain, when over 250,000 Kiwis saved money with our Price Promise between 2019-2021. Our terms and conditions are fair and presented just like other retailers, and when we can't price match, we often don't get the sale. Price matching is widely used by the industry, and it helps drive competition, and without it, Kiwis will end up paying more. Our business is built on getting our customers the products they want, when they want them, and at the best possible prices. If we don't get something right, we work hard to ensure fair resolutions for our customers. Some of the additional matters raised by the Commission occurred during the Covid-19-pandemic, when all businesses experienced unprecedented pressure, and our team went to extraordinary lengths to help Kiwis access the products they needed, handling over ten million transactions. It is concerning that significant public resources and time have been spent on this matter for over three years, while overlooking more pressing potential harm to consumers from overseas online retailers operating outside of the rules. The system needs to evolve and hold all retailers selling to New Zealanders to the same standards of care.'
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ernie Els misses Open Championship for 1st time since 1992, but 11 SA golfers to tee off
Ernie Els misses Open Championship for 1st time since 1992, but 11 SA golfers to tee off Two-time champion Ernie Els has withdrawn from this week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush, which tees off on Thursday. Golf fans will be disappointed not to see Els in action at the year's final Major. According to The Citizen, Els has one of the best records at the Open, a tournament he won in 2002 and 2012. By not playing the Open this week, the 55-year-old Els will end a run of 32 straight appearances at the tournament and 33 appearances in total. He played his first Open in 1989 at Royal Troon, and from 1992 – his next Open, where he tied for fifth at Muirfield – didn't miss an Open until now. The tournament wasn't held in 2020 due to the Covid-19-pandemic. Els has two wins, three runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes in his Open career. In total, he has nine top-five finishes. The Royal and Ancient, organisers of the Open, haven't given a reason for Els' withdrawal, and the player hasn't commented either. He played at last weekend's Dick's Open on the Champions Tour, finishing in a tie for 16th with a score of eight under par after rounds of 70, 69 and 69. In his most recent Open appearances, Els missed the cut in 2023 and withdrew with a back injury at Royal Troon last year. Oosthuizen and other SA golfers in the field This week's 150th Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland will, however, see 11 South Africans tee it up on Thursday, including former champion Louis Oosthuizen, who now plays regular golf on the LIV Tour. Oosthuizen won the Open at St Andrews in 2010. His other best finishes are a tied second in 2015 and tied third in 2021. The other South Africans in the field are Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt, Thriston Lawrence, Dylan Naidoo, amateur Bryan Newman, Shaun Norris, Aldrich Potgieter, Daniel van Tonder and Justin Walters. In five appearances, Bezuidenhout's best finish is tied 49th at Royal Liverpool in 2023. Burmester's best in three showings is tied 11th at St Andrews in 2022, while Fichardt has missed six cuts in seven starts. Lawrence was in contention at Troon last year before finishing fourth (in three Open appearances), while this will be Naidoo's first Open after capturing the SA Open title earlier this year to qualify. Norris has played in five Opens before, with a best finish of tied 61st in 2018. Potgieter missed the cut in his first and only appearance, as an amateur at St Andrews in 2022. Van Tonder will make his debut, while Walters' only appearance saw him miss the cut in 2014 at Royal Liverpool. Newman will chase the silver medal, awarded to the best amateur, after the now 18-year-old qualified by winning the Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek in February as a 17-year-old. The defending champion at Portrush is American Xander Schauffele.
