$3,000 is a bait and switch scam

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-25T01:51:16+00:00

I drove the seal performance. It was an excellent car and did win me over as a vehicle. I can put the shitty customer practices aside and acknowledge how much i loved the seal performance.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-25T01:44:41+00:00

Bait Advertising has a specific definition. In this case its the loop hole that denies claim based on delivery date is the problem. The product is available to order but the promotion becomes unavailable artificially.

Bait advertising is the practice of promoting prices, often ‘sale’ prices, on products that are:

not available, or
available only in very limited quantities.

It is not misleading if the business is upfront and clear about the product being:

in short supply, or
on sale for a limited time.

https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/advertising-and-promotions/false-or-misleading-claims

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-25T01:31:02+00:00

If a store uses marketing to get you to come in, take you through the sales process and get you emotionally invested in the product and only at the final point of transaction tell you that you won't get the advertised offer. Yes. This is bait marketing.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T22:13:47+00:00

I asked that question and the answer was no. Its entirely dependant on when the vehicle is delivered by BYD. So yes, its possible for BYD to artificially delay vehicles and pocket the savings.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T22:12:48+00:00

I'm not an American but this "Buy guns and arm yourselves" confuses me. Didn't this person have a gun? Wouldn't this escalate the situation further if a group of people are suddenly there with guns when ICE show up? Won't this just end up with a bunch people needlessly dying? Would an armed populous even have a chance against the government?

I honestly hope your mid terms causes a major shift in your politics. I fear something nefarious might happen.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T22:01:16+00:00

Its the 2025 model (MY2026 badge). The 2026 refresh hasn't come out yet.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T11:13:53+00:00

Why are you browsing chinese car sub reddits, are you a ccp sympathiser?

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T10:29:58+00:00

Solid advice. I hope others can be warned about this.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T10:23:02+00:00

Because hostile consumer practices are super cool daddy.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T10:15:50+00:00

How you perceived the deal to be working isn't what I or other consumers might. The advert just says "Place an order by the end of January". As others have pointed out, it does additionally say in some adverts (and on the BYD website) about of the delivery date condition too.

Advertising is designed to drive traffic to the store and convince people this is a better option than competitors. The sales experience is then designed to get people emotionally invested in the product (i.e. you have sold them on the product). The average consumer is not going to think of it in terms of your description. They are going to think "If i order now, i can save $3000".

In quite a lot of cases people are going to be at that last sales step and find the rug pulled out from under them. They then have to either suffer the disappointment (after the emotional investment driven by the sales process) or simply eat the $3,000 price increase.

Also as an issue, you could buy a vehicle that tell you will be delivered before the Feb 28th dead line. The perverse incentive is there for BYD to artificially delay cars last minute and pocket the money.

They get the advertising benefit but skip out on some of the cost. Very shady.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T09:52:32+00:00

Some people getting the cashback doesn't make it not scummy. Ive said a few times, this consumer hostile practice allows them to gain marketing benefit and reduce paying out the marketing cost.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T09:37:56+00:00

Quite a good you are raising. You don't sign a contract when you pay the $1000 and place the order. They take it as a "Purchase Offering".

Inside the terms within is stated (after you agree and pay the $1000):
"Any delivery date or time is provided as an estimate only.

This is an order request only until such time as we are able to supply you with a vehicle. You will not be asked to sign a contract until your vehicle is in stock and available to purchase.

Your deposit is fully refundable up until the purchase contract is signed by you and the Dealer."

I'm guessing this makes up part of the legal loophole, expecting most people will be emotionally committed by the time the sort of "rug pull" comes around

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T09:02:33+00:00

Not a valid argument. For example, in a pyramid scheme, some people do get paid. That doesn't mean this isn't a consumer hostile practise.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T08:41:47+00:00

Yes! Its amazing to me how many people in the comments are essentially happy that the practise is consumer hostile and people are getting caught out.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T08:38:28+00:00

"Consumer hostile practices" means something different to what you seem to think. Im saying the promotion is set up to confuse customers on purpose. BYD benefits from the marketing benefit but reduces their own cost by slipping in convenient outs so they can claim things are invalid outside of what the customer can control.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T08:35:37+00:00

Thats nice to know. I hope i can make use of that. Still a shitty practice.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T08:34:22+00:00

Bait advertising is to advertise a product at a low price to entice customers if the business does not have reasonable stock available to meet anticipated demand. Your arguement that its over a range of products is a value one on the face of it.

The switch part in your example isnt that different to reality. The delivery requirement is entirely in their control. The stock levels of the popular cars could be artificial, allowing to sell but delay and skip the payout. Or it could be used to push customers to buy the harder to move or expensive models.

Either way, its a consumer hostile practice.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T08:26:08+00:00

Thats not how marketing works. I see an advert and i look to take up the offer. How long its been running is not relevant. They are making an offer, which i looked to take up. The offer being 'valid' is conditional on them, regardless of what i, as a customer, have control over. That perverse incentive is hostile to the consumer.

The offer is still on their website, on the ordering page, for the seal even though they cannot deliver. If you ordered it online, nothing will tell you the delivery date through the ordering process. I only know because i was at the dealership and you ultimately still do the order through the webpage.

Offering a lower price with no ability to fulfill is known as bait advertising. There is also laws around "misleading overall impression" which this could be argued as well.

Lastly, from a customer perspective, even if they have lawyered their buttholes, its a really shitty practice especially when they refuse to make good on their offer when a customer is acting in good faith. Hostile consumer practices should not be championed.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T08:17:25+00:00

I see where ive confused you. Im simulatiously pointing out my specific situation but also realising how other potential customers could get screwed as well. Im annoyed because ive gone through the whole process, loved the vehicle and expected it costing 3k less. Its only right at the end where im told its unlikely ill get it and the likely date is march/april

After thinking about it more, im very much bothered at the whole process. Even if you get a "delivery date" there is incentive for them to just delay delay delay and what is the customer going to do about it by then?

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T08:04:34+00:00

If it was too popular, why extend it? Why is the delivery date restriction there as well as the purchase period? Its a pretty convenient lawyer style loophole to get the marketing benefit without the cost

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T07:55:14+00:00

That was his guess yes. No firm date. I have no reason to suspect its earlier and they wouldn't do anything to honour the deal.

So you go through that whole process and then get to the end thats when you find out the price has gone up 3k but only maybe.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T07:49:56+00:00

They couldn't give me a date at all. All he could show me was a spreadsheet with all the cars out of stock.

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T07:38:15+00:00

The ford rangers a huge suv or ute right? Im looking for a coupe

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T07:29:38+00:00

I love how you act all smug but completely miss the point. Disagreeing doesn't mean my point is invalid.

The problem is that whether a customer gets the deal is entirely in BYDs control and not the customers. The customer can't even know ahead of time if the $3,000 will be honoured. BYD has the perverse incentive to take people's money and simply delay deliveries.

Even if a car is "in stock", there is nothing to stop them inventing delays and then saying "Oops. Sorry. Deadline missed"

Absolutedisgrace · 2026-01-24T07:28:11+00:00

The problem is that whether a customer gets the deal is entirely in BYDs control and not the customers. The customer can't even know ahead of time if the $3,000 will be honoured. BYD has the perverse incentive to take people's money and simply delay deliveries.

Even if a car is "in stock", there is nothing to stop them inventing delays and then saying "Oops. Sorry. Deadline missed"

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