Remember that one time (last Friday) when GSM On Sale made a huge boo-boo and posted a 16GB iPad 2 for $69 on the Sears.com Marketplace web site? That didn’t go over so well for just about everyone involved. Virtual crowds of consumers flocked to the sale, calling friends and family to get in on it, many of whom bought the tablet in bulk. Only hours later, though, Sears responded by explaining the error and refunding the transaction.
After a weekend of backlash, the retail giant has posted the following apology on the front page of its site:
“Unfortunately … one of the Marketplace third party sellers told us that they mistakenly posted incorrect pricing on two Apple iPad models on the Marketplace portion of the website. If you purchased either of these products recently, your order has been cancelled and your account will be credited. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Obviously, there are quite a few people still reeling over this mess, while others are surprisingly on the side of Sears. Many have been vocal both on the Sears Facebook page (interestingly enough the announcement has 96 likes), as well as in the comments section of our original coverage.
Some brought the long arm of the law into the mix:
“According to some state laws that is illegal of them to do. In Michigan if you have something marked for $1, you have to sell it at that price if a customer finds it. Sucks but its the law.”
-Elizabeth Steffen
“When you purchase something at a price and it goes through, it becomes a contract. A contract cannot be voided unless agreed upon by both parties.”
-Michael Greenberg
“@Michael, when you purchase something (especially online) you agree to terms and conditions, if they have something about this in their terms and conditions, they are entitled to do it.”
-Angelo ‘Rocky’ Krakoff
“Their terms and conditions cannot violate state law. Contract Law supersedes ANY terms and conditions.”
-Michael Greenberg
Some could hardly control their rage:
“It’s bull… if one of the Sears stores had done that and you bought one, what would they do… call you on the phone and say bring it back, we priced it wrong & we’ll give you your money back? I don’t think so… just because it’s online, does not give them the right to not honor an advertised price!”
-David M Cheshire
“This was a great opportunity to gain a LOT of happy customers who would have told their friends and become brand evangelists for Sears. Good to know Sears thinks profit is more important. I know I’ll never purchase anything from Sears again, and will tell everyone I know to do the same.”
-Ashley Renee Sampson
Some were more concerned with the target of all this blame:
“Wow, people sure aren’t capable of reading… this was a 3rd party vendor… in case you don’t understand what that means… it means it wasn’t Sears’ call nor their responsibility. But, if I were Sears, I’d drop that vendor off Marketplace.”
-Allison Orr Rizer
“Sears actually doesn’t sell ANY Apple products. It’s all 3rd party Marketplace sellers. Stop making up rumors and feeling entitled. On all Marketplace ads, a disclaimer states Sears does not fulfill or guarantee Marketplace transactions. Get your facts straight. ‘I didn’t get to take advantage of a company’s screw up! Waah waah waah!’”
-David Chen
And some were just plain mad at the customers who fell for it:
“Some of you people act like spoiled 2-year-olds. It was a mistake, not their mistake. That would be like a realtor accidentally putting a for sale sign on your house instead of your neighbors. If somebody put a bid in on your house, would you have to sell it to them?”
-Gail Alison
“Wow – what a bunch of whiny spoiled brats. “No fair! I didn’t get to rip off a big company!” Grow up. Look at any website terms of service or even a Walmart or Target advertisement – they all say something to the effect of “Not responsible for misprints” and “Prices subject to change without notice.” Not only that – it wasn’t even Sears!”
-Debbie Cook St John
[via Consumerist]