Are websites the same as shops re:consumer rights

styles66_2

Hi
I recently (2 weeks ago) brought a very expensive camera lens through a uk web site. The lens was an amazing bargin £849 (believe or not for this lens £849 is a deal). The best price i have seen up until now for this lens would be £1,200. I rechecked the web site a day later to double check on the price and it had been changed to £1300. However i was sent an order received e-mail and a day or so later the paypal payment for £849 was taken. I received an e-mail today stating unfortunatly my lens was in part of a shipment that had been lost and the £849 was refunded into my account. Now i know that no shipment has been lost and its a pure matter of they put the wrong price on their web site. Do they have to honour this price by law? I know that if something is priced wrong in a shop then they have to honour it until they can get the correct price up.
thanks for any advice
Rob
ps the website is "igadjet.co.uk"

arcon5

Depends on their terms and conditions. Most companies are wise enough to state a contract is formed between buyer and seller upon dispatch on goods, in which case they can cancel at anytime up until that point. Others form the contract upon order acceptance, however have clauses in their terms allowing them to cancel orders in case of errors in pricing or product details.

So basically, its a safe assumption you have no rights.

What company is it out of curiosity?

Also, in a shop, if a product is incorrectly price they do NOT have to honour it. When you go to the counter to make your offer to purchase, if they realise a mistake they are well within their rights to refuse the sale.

It is only if they was intentionally misleading consumers they could get into trouble.

Read here

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3277262

bod1467

You thought you were getting a bargain. Company realised and cancelled the order (lost shipment may be smoke and mirrors, but you can't prove it). Company refunded your purchase price. You're not out of pocket, so you're back in the same position as before the order.

Nothing you can do but shrug and say "oh well - nearly got a bargain".

wealdroam

And if you want a bit more detail...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3277262

DCFC79

You havent lost out, seems its an error thats been made and its been noticed.

fluffnutter

styles66 wrote: »

I know that if something is priced wrong in a shop then they have to honour it until they can get the correct price up.

This isn't correct. They can refuse to sell you the item.

In terms of your particular problem, the contract is not deemed to have been completed until (usually) despatch of the goods. I assume you've not yet received your lens, in which case, they can cancel your order, refund you the money and re-advertise at the correct price.

squeaky

There's a draft FAQ in progress on this thread:- Helpful links ... Suggestions please

Specifically from [post=46532555]this post[/post]

Any suggestions for changes and additions gratefully accepted

somethingcorporate

Added my (only) thought on your new FAQ post, it's a good one and covers the OPs question well.

squeaky

somethingcorporate wrote: »

Added my (only) thought on your new FAQ post, it's a good one and covers the OPs question well.

Thought noted and acted upon

styles66_2

Hi
thanks all for the info.just checked their terms and conditions and it does basically say the the order is not legally binding until the item is dispatched.Oh well..