Can a big store refuse to sell me an item at the price indicated in an advertisement because it has an error?

Question

The store is Walmart, and there was a mistake in the advertisement. This particular item was advertised at $100 less than its price in store. The store refuses to sell me the item at the price advertised, even though they told me that there is a mistake in the advertisement. Is there something I can do?

Answer 1

Nothing you can do.  Most people are under the misconception that they are legally obligated to sell it to you, and many times the store humours them and goes along with it under "The customer is always right" theories.  But a $100 mistake is a bit much for their bottom line.

Basically, advertising is not a contract, they aren't yet bound to do any sort of business with you until you pay for it.  They can refuse to sell to anyone as long as it is not some kind of discrimination.

Answer 2

It seems unfair to me for anyone to take advantage of someone because of an error.  So the moral answer to your question is obvious.

On the legal side, most advertisement, especially from Walmart because they are an old hand at this, includes some fine print in the bottom to say that prices can changed without notice or that the store is not obligated to supply merchandise at the advertise price if an error is made.

In most cases, a store, for good customer relation, would honor an error, but in your case, the difference of $100 is probably too big for them to swallow.

Good luck if you are pursuing Walmart further.