Arctic Hunter buyers cry foul over canceled free wallet promise

Buyers joined the membership for the freebie, then were told “stocks ran out.”

Online shoppers are calling out Arctic Hunter over an allegedly misleading promo that promised a free wallet in exchange for brand membership, with many reporting that their orders were canceled by the seller.

Arctic Hunter offered a free trifold wallet—which sells for around ₱800—for customers who signed up for its brand membership on Shopee ahead of the 9.9 sale on September 9. The bag brand, which originated in China, is known for its durable and water-resistant bags, wallets, and storage products.

Hundreds of customers who availed themselves of the free wallet saw their orders canceled within a day. Many orders displayed the status “pickup unsuccessful,” which was attributed to the seller not preparing the parcel.

Arctic Hunter apologized to affected customers, saying its inventory was affected by flooding. The brand assured customers that their other membership benefits remain unaffected.

“Unfortunately, due to the recent heavy rains and flooding, our allocated wallet inventory was affected during storage. After inspection, the units did not meet our quality standards and are no longer suitable for distribution,” read a message Arctic Hunter sent to buyers on Shopee.

While some took the statement at face value, others questioned the immediate cancellations instead of waiting for new stocks to arrive. “It suddenly felt like a ploy to join their membership,” said one Reddit user.

If the promotion was indeed fraudulent, the store may be held liable under consumer protection laws.

The Consumer Act (Republic Act No. 7394) punishes deceptive advertising, especially for product promotions that are offered to consumers for reasons different from what was stated in the promotion. Violators can face imprisonment of five months to one year, a fine ranging from ₱500 to ₱10,000, as well as compensation for damages that the court may deem appropriate.

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