False advertsiing and inadequate customer support

new balance South Africa online store advertise a 15% discount on your first purchase when signing up for their newsletter. There was a pair of shoes a wanted to buy on black friday. The shoes were not on sale, so the discount code would apply. I signed up for the newsletter to get the discount code but never received it.

Upon emailing support, they let me know that they had disabled the newsletter signup discount during black friday so as 'not to confuse' customers. After the first reply they stopped and I've heard nothing in 3 days. They didn't tell me when the discount code would be re-activated.

Unlike every other ecommerce store on the planet, they couldn't just say 'discount codes don't apply to sale items' and then let people continue using discount codes on off sale items. Instead they just turn off the newsletter discount code email but keep the advert up, amounting to false advertising.

I wanted to get the shoes quickly before I go away on holiday or my size is sold out but they have been unable to answer questions or send the discount code as promised. Email support is inadequate in terms of information and reply time, and the phone number on their site is never, ever answered. So due to amateurish operation, randomly turning off the discount they advertise, I bought the shoes at full price. I feel unable to communicate with this company and aggrieved by their false promises.

Would not recommend shopping with them online.