The company behind The TV Shop has been convicted in the Auckland District Court for multiple breaches of the Fair Trading Act after staff posted fake customer reviews, filtered out negative feedback and misled consumers about their legal rights.
Brand Developers Limited, which sells products such as ‘Thin Lizzy’ and the ‘Transforma Ladder’, was found to have created a false impression of product popularity and quality by allowing employees to post positive reviews without disclosure, sometimes without having used the products, and by encouraging friends and family to do the same.
The court also heard the company routinely blocked one-, two- and three-star reviews unless customers responded to follow-up emails, while systematically removing unfavourable feedback.
In addition, The TV Shop misrepresented consumers’ rights by suggesting refunds and remedies were limited to its own guarantee schemes, despite protections under consumer law. The company was convicted on 13 charges spanning several years, with sentencing to be determined at a later hearing.
Image credit: Fachrizal Maulana
Misleading people in any and every way should be fully criminalised and such criminal liabilities should be doubly imposed on all politicians.
People who watch TV are being misled by more than just the TV Shop.
TV turns your mind and body into jelly.
TV shop needs to go out of business for good.