Why do 02 lie about their stock-levels

[Anonymous]

So, believe it or not, in the last month I've been through this process 3 times.

1: Ordered an Ipad and Iphone on "next day delivery" because the website said they were available

2: Paid the up front money

3: Got a text saying neither Ipad or Iphone was actually in stock

4: Cancelled the orders

5: Spoke to an adviser, who has told me that it's only certain colours/storage sizes that are out of stock (even though the website says all colours/storage sizes are in stock) and I should re-order a different one.

6: Re-ordered a different (colour, storage size) Ipad/Iphone

7: Paid the up front money

8: Got a text saying neither of these devices are in stock either..............

So that's 3 different Ipads, and 3 different Iphones (basically every device they do!) that 02 claim they have in stock, that they actually don't have in stock. 02 literally don't have any of the new Iphones or Ipad Pros in stock - but the website says they're almost all in-stock.

And it's not even as if it's close. When I say "out of stock" I mean, they don't have anything for 2-3 weeks at least.

I even had a situation where an adviser was telling me on the phone, that an Ipad was definitely out-of-stock and would be for at least a week, but the website was still taking orders for "next day delivery".

I'm starting to think it's just a business strategy. To secure orders, on products they don't even have. Just so you don't go to EE, or 3.

Seriously, I've never had  a situation with another provider when a "next day delivery" didn't show up. It's happened on 3 consecutive orders, with 02, on 6 different products.

[MI5]

If you search the forum you will see this is raised over and over again yet o2 continue to take orders for products they don't have.

[gmarkj]

Not sure if this link will get me in trouble (sorry!) but check this out:
http://iphonestockchecker.co.uk/

[madasaf1sh]

The problem at the moment is 2 fold,

1. o2 dont have for consumers a live stock systems
2. People are hunting still iPhone 7's and the new iPads, and as soon as someone has it stock, everyone knows about it through the link posted by @gmarkj and other places, so the stock is snapped up.

My personal experience last week was ordered Thursday at 1pm collected at 7pm from an o2 shop, where it was shown as in stock...So maybe try this option...

[Anonymous]

I had no problem getting hold of an iPhone 7 in my local o2 store last week 

[jonsie]

The fact remains, whether the device is in stock, out of stock or just a figment of O2's imagination, they will greedily take your money and hope you are patient enough to wait until the 12th of Never for your new toy. 

[Cleoriff]

Ages ago we suggested a live stock ordering system in our Ideas section. The response was 'Not applicable'.

I buy virtually everything online and I can always see if goods are available for purchase. Amazon, Ebay, Argos, Next,  Asda, A.O. Tesco etc etc etc.... So I dont accept that a company like O2 are unable to implement a similar system. I certainly would never pay a large sum of money for any goods only to find they are out of stock and I have to wait weeks .

[MI5]

People expect to order online and receive their items next day now and there are so many companies that succeed in this. Argos can even deliver same day, so anything else just falls short of the mark and customer expectations.

[Beenherebefore]

Can I suggest a small correction ?

O2 don't actually lie about their online stock levels.

How can they when they don't actually know what quantities that they have in stock at any one time.

To lie one must know the actuality.

[PiedPiper]

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@Beenherebefore wrote:
Can I suggest a small correction ?

O2 don't actually lie about their online stock levels.

How can they when they don't actually know what quantities that they have in stock at any one time.

To lie one must know the actuality.

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If O2 don't know about their stock levels then they shouldn't quote them on their web site, nor should they take payment until they do. A genuine mistake we could understand, but not this. It appears they think they can get away with it because of a huge gulf between supply and demand.

If for some reason @Beenherebefore you don't like the use of the word 'lie' perhaps you would prefer the word 'fraud'.