DUmmies discuss an attempted online theft from Sears:
Liberal_in_LA (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:03 PM
Original message
Sears mistakenly posted iPads 2 for $69. Not honoring purchases that were processed at that price
Sears Mistakenly Sells iPads 2 For $69.00 On Its Website
The on-line retailer briefly posted the price of a 16GB iPad 2 for $69 Friday afternoon and the larger 32GB model for $179. The Apple made handheld devices normally sell for between $500 and $800 depending on the model.
Customers who spotted the deal began purchasing multiple iPads and spreading word of the amazing price on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook until someone from the company realized the mistake. Customers say within about 20 minutes, the item was taken off the Sears' webpage.
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Meanwhile customers who thought they'd scored a great deal on a brand new iPad 2 say they're disappointed the company won't honor the posted price, even after they paid and got a confirmation number.
"I don't see how they can do that," said a very disgruntled Paula Knight. She says she was trying to purchase one of the iPads for her autistic son who had his stolen at school. "It's very disappointing for us all."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1509816mysuzuki2 (973 posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:05 PM
Response to Original message
1. That's Sears for you.
Honestly, why are they still in business?
MineralMan (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:07 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. What? I suppose you've never made a mistake?
Someone screwed up and put the wrong price in the ad. As soon as it was recognized, it was corrected. Since the mistake was of such a magnitude that anyone who looked at it could see it was a mistake, why would anyone feel like Sears had to honor that erroneous price?
A little common sense goes a long way, I think.
proud2BlibKansan (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. Because it's a law.
I used to work in retail advertising. Law says you have to honor the price you list in an ad. Sears could put out a new ad with the correct price but they most certainly do have to honor the price in their ad until they correct it.
It's not surprising the bitter, hateful crone Anne Pritchett supports the would-be thieves, even going so far as to lie about a job in advertising.
What's surprising is that nearly every other DUmmy sides with Sears, against the thieves.
Liberal_in_LA (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:33 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. I remember a time when prices posted in error were honored
Wrong prices were definitely honored if the item was purchased. Wonder what Sears would have done if the ipads has been shipped at that price? charge the purchaser the difference?
The error was corrected within 20 minutes, DUmbass.
Hamlette (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:38 PM
Response to Reply #10
14. That was before the internet
where tens of thousands of people can buy the item in the 20 minutes it takes to correct the dollar amount.
MineralMan (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
4. Greed sucks, whether it comes from a corporation or
consumers. Everyone who ordered knew that price was incorrect. Now they're pissed because now they won't be able to sell the six ipads they ordered on Craigs List or eBay? Greed.
Business needs to be based on honesty and common sense. Just because a company makes an error in an ad doesn't mean you get to rip them off. Feh!
richmwill (896 posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:21 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. +1
True. I'm sure they're just disappointed that they weren't able to complete their near-theft from Sears. Were they going to sell their multiple iPads on Ebay or Craigslist for anywhere near the $69 they thought they were purchasing them for, or the full retail amount? We all know the answer to that. And that's why they're pissed. They received an excellent lesson in the evils of greed.
DUmmy frylock admits to attempted theft:
frylock (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-17-11 04:35 PM
Response to Original message
13. these people need to get real..
i recently had the same experience. an online retailer advertised a $1200 set of taylor made golf clubs for $150 or something. i jumped all over it knowing full well that it was likely a mistake, and that my purchase would be refunded if that were indeed the case. i figured i had nothing to lose.
