Digital Empire Online non exisistent 50% discount

[Tottster]

This post refers to the half price stand offer quoted on just about every voucher site going (free publicity no doubt)

The codes are (don't bother noting them down as they're useless): DEOLCD50 DEOPLAS50 & DEO PLA50. I suspect there'll be a few more combinations of useless letters and numbers promoted by DEO as well.

I intended to use a voucher for a half price TV stand from Digital Empire Online. I had read various reviews and decided not to order electricals but to take advantage of a stand I was in no hurry for.

I came across several codes (all much the same) some specified you had to but an LCD or plasma TV to qualify for the half price stand, but there were plenty of other sites with another offer ongoing to allow the user to gain 50% off ANY TV stand.

So, I tried to order one (£229 - disc = £114.50) and after the transaction persistently failed with every single code I entered (even if I pretended I was buying a mega expensive telly) I rang DEO.

The sales assistant said the voucher was only valid on the 2 stands they sold for over £300!

I even offered to order a DVD recorder with hard drive (costing £239) to up the overall cash value of the order, AND still pay £150 (50% of the £300 criteria) on top as a reduced diuscount amount for the stand. But they were having none of it so I came away empty handed and will never use them again.

I'm new to this so is this a common scam to offer non existent vouchers with unclear or manipulative T&C's just to try and lure consumers in to spend?

Shot themselves in the foot as far as I'm concerned as the telephone manner also left a lot to be desired too.