iPad price 'as cheap as free' makes supermarket chain miserable

A pricing issue on the MediaWorld website allowed many customers in Italy to buy iPad Air at a low price, leading to controversy when the retail chain demanded a recall.

The fixed price helps many customers buy iPads at super cheap prices. Photo: Tuan Anh .

A rare incident just happened at MediaWorld, a large electronics retail chain in Italy, when its system listed the 13-inch iPad Air for loyalty card holders at only 15 euros ( 17 USD ). This number is dozens of times lower than the actual price of 879 euros ( 1,012 USD ).

Even better, this price applies to both online and in-store purchases, and products are still delivered to customers as normal.

According to Wired , the surprise discount program appeared on the MediaWorld website on November 8. With no special conditions or limitations, the offer was quickly used by many customers. Those who ordered online all paid smoothly, and in-store transactions of 15 euros were also accepted and MediaWorld delivered the device on time.

The incident lasted for 11 days before MediaWorld discovered the pricing error. The company then sent an email to the customer, informing them that the price displayed was “clearly incorrect.” The retailer gave them two options: they could keep the iPad but pay the difference from the original price, plus a 150 euro discount, or return the product and receive a 15 euro refund and a 20 euro discount coupon as an apology.

The dispute arose because MediaWorld’s terms and conditions did not include any provision allowing a company to cancel a contract due to pricing errors. The company therefore invoked a general provision in Italian contract law, which allows a company to cancel a transaction if the price is clearly incorrect.

MediaWorld wants to recall the product or ask customers to pay the difference. Photo: Bloomberg .

However, a consumer rights lawyer quoted by Wired said that the obvious factor is not easy to determine in the context of retailers often launching many deep discount programs to attract attention.

According to this lawyer, buyers have no way to be sure whether this is a technical error or just a limited quantity promotion. In addition, MediaWorld has only sent out notification emails, not issued an official legal document asking customers to return the goods or make additional payments.

There is currently no specific direction for handling the case. While waiting for MediaWorld to make a clearer legal move, observers say that buyers are unlikely to be required to respond to emails or return the devices.

Source: https://znews.vn/ipad-gia-sieu-re-nhu-cho-khien-chuoi-sieu-thi-dieu-dung-post1605901.html