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    Sears accidentally lists iPad 2 for $69 - cue hoard of unhappy customers

    By Molly McHugh | Digital Trends – Tue, Jul 19, 2011
    Sears is coping with some customer fallout after a typo on its site last week listed the 16GB iPad 2 as selling for $69 and the 32GB version for $169. In reality, they cost $499 and $599, respectively. And the happy shoppers who stocked up on the Apple tablets were in for a rude awakening from the retailer.

    In a statement, Sears explained the situation. “Dear Valued Customer: We want you to know that, unfortunately, today one of the Marketplace third party sellers told us that they had mistakenly posted incorrect pricing information 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.”

    While Sears itself wasn’t responsible for the posting (it came from GSM On Sale, an outside vendor), customers are crying foul, saying the company should honor the deals as they were listed. Some even contend that legally the store is required to honor purchases as they are listed, although Sears’ terms of service explicitly say that if pricing errors occur the retailer has the right to cancel any resulting orders.

    Sears has been flooded with negative responses from wronged customers. One user, “MattH,” wrote on its discussion forum, explaining his frustration. “All I know is that I’m still waiting on my money to get refunded. I’m so disappointed in Sears. If not for simply not honoring the price mistake, but for missing a GOLDEN opportunity from a PR standpoint to be held in high respect and bolster their public opinion. Sears…pump your brakes, do the right thing and EVERYONE wins – except that third party vendor, which I suggest you drop when all is said and done.”

    Some comments reflect concerns that Sears is being unfairly judged for GSM On Sale’s mistake. That would be easier to believe if it weren’t for other reports of pricing errors. BusinessInsider reports that a handful of customers recently jumped at the chance to purchase a Haier HL40XP1 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for a measly $87.98. However, they were soon notified the orders were canceled because the item was no longer in stock. But seeing as the unit is now listed on the site for $877.98, it looks as if another typo was to blame.

     

    83 comments

    • BW
      BW  •  10 mths ago
      Anyone with an ounce of honor would understand that this was a mistake and would not complain when they got a refund. You cant honestly think that something that normally sells for 500-800 dollars would actually be going for 69 dollars all the sudden and then try to weasel your way out of your shady decision by saying they have to honor it because of false advertising. They have a disclaimer on their site that plainly states they can cancel a order because of errors so all you people that thought you were getting something for nothing are out of luck like you rightfully should be. Everyone that bought the Ipad knew from the start it was wrong and you were just trying to take advantage of something.
    • Daniel
      Daniel  •  10 mths ago
      Hey ! It happens to all of us we all make mistakes at one time or another . So stop your crying already !
    • H
      H  •  10 mths ago
      i don't like sears, but come on. you knew it wasn't $69 and you were trying to take advantage of a typo. it's sears' prerogative to refund the accounts, and considering how much they would've lost on all the sales, it's not really a wonder they did. sometimes you get a free lunch, sometimes you don't. get over it.
    • Joshua Williams
      Joshua Williams  •  10 mths ago
      Pfft, the anger isn't coming from the mistake, they're just #$%$ because they thought they'd be getting something for almost free (which they'd likely sell back for retail price anyway). Grow up and act your age, mistakes happen. If you *REALLY* want an iPad 2, you'll be happy to shell out the $500 monies for it!
    • Wayne Turner
      Wayne Turner  •  10 mths ago
      The American mindset nowadays is to get something for nothing....."Sears’ terms of service explicitly say that if pricing errors occur the retailer has the right to cancel any resulting orders." Quit your whining and get on with your life.
    • a
      a  •  10 mths ago
      Waahhh, waaaahh, mommy, Sears wouldn't give me an iPad for $69. Waaahhh, waaah, Mommy, I don't ever want to shop at Sears again!
      • a
        a 10 mths ago
        Yep, when it comes down to it people are mad the couldn't screw over Sears... Wow, sounds like everyone but Sears is the problem here.
      • don'tcallmebubbaboy
        don'tcallmebubbaboy 10 mths ago
        agree whole heartedly
    • Going4Broke2005
      Going4Broke2005  •  10 mths ago
      Get over it. It was a mistake and they had the right to cancel the order over typoes. Read any advertisement in paper or otherwise and it will generally state something along the lines of the retailer reserving rights to the offer including cancellation, etc. over typoes, etc.
    • Gangsta
      Gangsta  •  10 mths ago
      So I'm not getting my order of 1000 iPads? My kids eBay and CraigsList are going to be really mad.
    • puppychick
      puppychick  •  10 mths ago
      I know if I pick up a loaf of bread for 50 cents and it was supposed to be 1.50, they say they have to sell it for the advertised price. Picked up a $100 weight set from Wal-Mart once for $25/00 because they forgot to change the sign. No qusetions asked. Their mistake and they sold it for that price.
    • AdamB
      AdamB  •  10 mths ago
      Apple fixes their prices and do not allow retailers to set the price (MRUP) Sears Holding could lose their AAPL contracts if they sold for anything other then what Apple allows
    • Frank Marducas
      Frank Marducas  •  10 mths ago
      If it seems to good to be true,it usually is.
    • Jason
      Jason  •  10 mths ago
      Do people really think that an IPAD 2 would be selling for $70. Clearly it was a mistake, get over it. If SEARS would have mistakenly overcharged for an item you would fully expect to get your money back, and you would. This should be a non issue.
    • Jim
      Jim  •  10 mths ago
      Please provide a list of the scumbags who think Sears should honor this error. Need to add them alongside Casey Anthony's name....thanks.
    • PartOfThe99
      PartOfThe99  •  10 mths ago
      Sears should honor this. We have laws in place to prevent fraud for a reason. As for the customers' "taking advantage of" Sears, sorry, no, that argument doesn't hold water. Businesses sell "loss leaders" all the time, and we have no way of telling whether a deal is a loss leader or a typo.

      Bottom line: give the customers the iPads they legally and rightfully purchased, and hire a proofreader. Don't make your customers pay for your incompetence. It actually WOULD be a good PR stunt, and would probably bring more than enough customers to your site to make up the difference. At the very least, the "bargain iPad" buyers would be loyal Sears customers.
      • Peter
        Peter 10 mths ago
        IPAD2 is a loss leader? Yeah, they have excess inventory to get rid of these item as quickly as possible for $69 each? Come on. Be logical here.
    • lalasayswhat
      lalasayswhat  •  10 mths ago
      They must be obama freeloaders complaining.
      • DarkoSlack
        DarkoSlack 10 mths ago
        Because to a racist like you - everything is President Obama's fault.
      • Daniel
        Daniel 10 mths ago
        Your mother was at the head of the line with the rest of your family in tow !
    • just a thought
      just a thought  •  10 mths ago
      did you honestly think that you were going to get a $500 item for $70? And Sears is not wrong for canceling the item. You should be made at the third party for not honoring the price and paying the difference to Sears for their mistake.
      But just remember, everyone makes mistakes, you want to live with no forgiveness on the next one you make? Cause I doubt you are perfect!
      • Richard Steiner
        Richard Steiner 10 mths ago
        Banks, credit card companies, retail stores, and other business entities tend to be very unforgiving when a customer makes a mistake. Why should they be held to a different standard than they use for their own clients?
      • Jason
        Jason 10 mths ago
        I tend to agree with you but same time they should still send out what was sold and go after the 3rd party for the loss. If a worker in their store costs them money they can sue the worker for their loss.
      • Matthew
        Matthew 10 mths ago
        A business can not sue a worker for a mistake they made on the job....
    • Arthur MouseMcRatty
      Arthur MouseMcRatty  •  10 mths ago
      Must be liberals handling the ads. They can't do anything right.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  10 mths ago
      FACT is-consumer laws require Sears to honor the price---but the law also required that GM stockholders be paid first----LOL-can't have socialism and democracy at the same time--LOL
    • Mark and Kelly
      Mark and Kelly  •  10 mths ago
      So they listed it for the price Sears pays for them- so what. break even is better than bad PR.
    • don'tcallmebubbaboy
      don'tcallmebubbaboy  •  10 mths ago
      tough call. False advertising sometimes goes in consumer's favor, and sometimes in retailers. Depending on how many folks ordered an I-pad 2, they should have possibly considered giving the things away (for 69.99). The guy who posted below is probably correct: vendors usually not responsible for such a ludicrous error----and justly so. It;s called unjust enrichment (i think??) LOL
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