Advertising Standards Authority
This coverage examines the Advertising Standards Authority’s rulings, guidance, and investigations as they impact UK retail marketing and promotions. With a focus on compliance, consumer protection, and brand reputation, the reporting helps retail professionals navigate advertising regulations, assess risks, and adapt campaigns to meet ASA standards — supporting informed decision-making for those managing retail communications and marketing strategy.
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Sep- 2018 -27 SeptemberOnline & Digital
Amazon banned from selling food supplements as ‘slimming aids’ without evidence
Amazon has been banned from selling food supplements categorised under ‘Slimming Aids and Weight Loss’ for being misleading to the customer. Upon investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), Amazon said that category heading operated as a “signpost”, allowing customers to navigate through the website, however, the retailer added that…
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12 SeptemberHigh Street
Game reprimanded by ASA for ‘misleading’ advert
Game has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after a complainant claimed an advert suggested the company only accepted trade-ins depending on the age of a game. The advert showed a man handing down a game to his son whilst telling him the history behind his ownership of…
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Aug- 2018 -15 August
Amazon Prime one-day delivery ad banned by ASA
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has now banned Amazon from advertising one-day delivery on it’s Prime service after it was found to be “misleading”. Earlier this week the ASA had asked the online retail giant to “clarify” its its ‘one-day’ delivery claims for Prime customers after the regulatory body received…
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13 AugustOnline & Digital
Amazon told to clarify ‘one-day’ delivery claims
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told Amazon to clarify its ‘one-day’ delivery claims for Prime customers, after the regulatory body called it “misleading”. Around 270 customers reported not receiving their items until after the next day. The ASA said customers were “likely to understand that, so long as they…
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8 AugustHigh Street
‘Misleading’ Sports Direct ad reprimanded by ASA
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a Sports Direct ad for “misleading” customers about the original price of a product, and warned the firm to make its delivery charges to online customers clearer. The sportswear retailer’s website was found to be promoting a pair of Karrimor walking boots for…
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Jun- 2018 -13 JuneDepartment Stores
M&S reprimanded by ASA over Christmas claim
M&S has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after they claimed that they were the only “supermarket where Christmas dinner cost less than last year”. A Good Housekeeping survey was used as the basis of M&S’ claims, however the ASA said this was “misleading” and “substantiation” because “it…
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6 JuneClothing & Shoes
Silks ad that ‘objectified women’ banned
A poster advert for Scottish lingerie retailer Silks has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for “objectifying women” after it showed an image of a woman leaning forwards to emphasise her breasts with her head out of shot. This morning’s ASA ruling said that the advert “invited viewers…
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1 JuneGovernment
ASA wants Viagogo adverts blocked as it battles with ticket vendor
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told search engines including Google and Bing to block all adverts by secondary ticket retailer Viagogo. The move comes after the ASA said Viagogo promised on 23 March 2018 to “make compulsory fees sufficiently clear by 26 May 2018”. The ticket retailer appears to…
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Apr- 2018 -18 AprilClothing & Shoes
Wish.com reprimanded for penis advert on video games aimed at children
Online retailer Wish.com has been displaying an advert showing an animation of a cartoon penis being put in an extender strap sold on the website, on video game apps aimed at children. This represents the third time in five months that the US company has been found to have breached…
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4 AprilOnline & Digital
Amazon reprimanded by watchdog over ‘misleading’ ads
Four adverts by Amazon have been banned after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said they were “misleading”. In a series of TV adverts in July last year, Amazon promoted items such as a laptop gaming monitor, TV and an electric toothbrush with savings of over £300 on their RRP. The…
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