Another website price mistake (lorch handy tig ac dc 180)

[antonio costa]

I've just saw this
http://cuttingandwelding.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_26_30&products_id=116

I thinks that price is impossible, at least compared to known prices of the same machine.
Do you think I should try to buy it? Or more important that the company would honor the price?
I've been thinking of buying a lorch ac dc, I need a tig with ac at home (only have ac at work)

 

[antonio costa]

I've just checked and the DC only costs more than that...

 

[norlander]

I always thought that the law in the UK is that if they mark the price, they have to sell that unit at that price, they can change the price for subsequent units, but not that one, I think it comes under UK Trading Standards law or something like that.
Maybe they forgot the VAT or something, plus, with some outfits like Lorch, its only the welder, you have to buy the torch, work return etc as extras?

 

[hotrodder]

There's nothing contractual about advertised prices or quotes, the seller doesn't have to accept the punters offer of money just like the punter doesn't have to buy something that's offered for sale. Invitiation to treat is the legal term http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/small_business/business_contracts/500564.html
That said under the Consumer Protection Act it's a criminal offence to give consumers a misleading price indication and retailers can be fined upto £5k for each punter that was mislead. I doubt many have been though, especially when it's a blindingly obvious mistake like the £3 televisions thing that happened the other year. Doing it the other way around with a fake "sale" on the other hand... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23797882

 

[rich r]

As hotrodder says, the seller of goods is under no obligation to sell to a buyer unless a price and other terms are mutually agreed on. It's up to a court to decide if something was deliberately underpriced in order to deceive, or whether it was a genuine mistake.

However, a lot of larger retail organisations will honour their mistakes as a gesture of good will in order to maintain a good public image (which equates to more sales). They could then of course track down who was ultimately responsible and fine them/sack them/make them pay the difference

 

[antonio costa]

Thanks for all the input on this situation. I think that I will risk and buy it to see if they honour or not their mistake even not beeing legally forced to do so.

Regards,
Antonio Cosya

 

[rich r]

The worst that will happen is that you don't get charged, and don't get a welder

 

[matt1978]

It's a mistake as it costs them a lot more to buy than that.

By all means try but I think it will be a fruitless exercise

 

[Ed.]

I was under the impression that as long as no money trades hands then there is no contract to buy or to sell it at the the advertised price. However having said that, if it is listed at a certain price and you have done the transaction online and the money has been transferred from your account then I would assume, that money has been accepted and they can't give you a refund and say that it was a mistake. Most companies should honour that sort of error and change the price after the first sale but if not, then it would be a matter for the courts to decide if it was a legal transaction or not. There are many reasons why an item might be listed way cheaper than usual, ie; clearance sale or overstocked item. The seller may need the cash for some reason or other, discontinued stock line item or new model arriving soon. My view would be do the transaction and see if it is honourned and take it from there. Switch and bait or misleading sales prices are illegal practices with hefty fines for the sellers.

 

[Richard.]

Be interesting to see how that goes.
What is the rough sales price for that machine matt.

 

[antonio costa]

Me too, their checkout system isn't working correctly. It doesn't let me finish and confirm to pay by paypal. Altough the shipping to my country is quite a bit, 100£. Not that I care if they sell me the welder at the advertised price that is vat included!!
I will try again tomorrow and maybe contact them directly if the check out system still doesn't work.
Regards,
Antonio Costa

 

[Richard.]

Very best of luck. Tell em you want 5