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Reason for Coles breaking its roast chicken ‘promise’ exposed

A gaping hole in the Coles policy that promises customers a free roast chicken if stock runs out has been exposed.

The supermarket introduced the policy in 2019, promising customers a voucher for a free hot roast chicken if they were unable to buy one between 11am and the store’s closing.

However, after one disappointed customer complained this week that the promise was not honoured, the retailer revealed there was a specific condition that invalidated its policy.

The front of a Coles supermarket. Source: Getty Images
Coles has confirmed an exemption to its hot chicken 'promise'. Source: Getty Images

The shopper on Monday said on Twitter that a Coles employee refused to uphold the promise because of an issue with the oven that cooked the chicken.

“It was the oven's fault [but] the oven didn't make any promises,” the peeved customer wrote, asking Coles: “Do you understand what a promise is?”.

If the oven is broken, promise doesn’t stand, Coles confirms

In response to the complaint, an employee for the supermarket confirmed the shopper’s suspicion.

“We can confirm that if a store’s oven is broken or otherwise unusable and the store is unable to cook products, the promise does not apply. We're sorry for the disappointment,” they wrote.

Unsatisfied with the reply, the shopper continued on with their angry tirade.

A Coles ad for its $10 hot roast chicken. Source: Coles
If a Coles store's chicken oven is broken, there will be no free vouchers handed out. Source: Coles

“If your supplier fails to deliver is that another exit from your promise? When do you keep your word?” they wrote in another tweet.

“Or has there never been a free voucher issued? Under what conditions? I don't think you comprehend the meaning of the term promise.

“As you are responsible for the maintenance and operation of the oven, it is not a promise. Gets good PR though.”

Yahoo News Australia has contacted Coles for further comment.

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