HALFORDS RAPPED FOR ’HIGH SPEC’ BIKE ADVERT
Halfords was today rapped by the advertising watchdog after describing an entry-level mountain bike as “high spec”.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said a television advert showing a Trax Outrage bike on sale at half price for £99.99 was “misleading”.
Halfords argued the bike had front and rear suspension, 18 speed Shimano gears, a hi-tensile steel frame and V-brakes.
And the retailer said the interpretation of “high spec” was a matter of opinion.
But the ASA upheld complaints the bicycle was merely a standard model.
The watchdog said the adverts may have led some consumers to believe the model was higher quality than other similarly priced entry-level bikes and ruled the adverts must not be shown again.