Is it true a shop dose not have to sell a product at ticket price if its been priced incorrectly.?

Question

i heard staff saying in a large supermarket that they where not obliged to see at ticket price.Because people had bee swapping tickets.

Answer 1

Yes. The ticket price is simply an invitation to negotiate (to "treat") and it is not binding on the shop, which can choose not to sell at all or to sell at a different price

Answer 2

It is true.

Anytime you buy something it falls within the law of contract. Put simply you need an offer and acceptance.

The case of Boots v Pharmacology Association (can't remember the proper name) says that an SEL or shelf label is an invitation to treat rather than an offer.

There are many reasons for this. One of the most obvious is that if it was an offer then anytime you picked an item up off of the shelf you would be accepting the offer (by conduct) and therefore be in a contract to buy it, so couldn't put it back down if you changed your mind.

It also obviously stops people swapping tickets.

However, in many instances if you complain to the supermarket they will give it to you at the lower price if you complain. Assuming the difference is not too great.

Answer 3

hi dunan. to my understanding, if a shop is adverstising a product at a certain price, they should be selling it at that price. it is the duty of the shop workers to ensure that products are correctly and clearly priced. if you were to go into a shop and looked at a product that is priced at £5, you have the right to purchase this product at £5. it is all under the sale of goods act.  

Answer 4

If you own something you can put the price you want to it. Nobody can (should be able to) force you to sell at another price.

I think that (since we're living under a socialist system) there could be a law forcing businesses to buy at the price advertised. Sounds logical but it's not. If the business lies, walk away and buy from someone else who doesn't lie.

If the price is a mistake, the business doesn't have to pay you for that mistake. If it was the wrong doing of someone else, the business doesn't have to pay you for that. An apology is more than enough. After all, it's not like you suffer any loss.

Forcing the businesses by law is childish. Life it's not a game where you can take advantage of the rules for your own good and damaging other players.  

Answer 5

They are correct.

Richard

Answer 6

It's not as straightforward as most people have suggested.  While in accordance with contract law, you cannot enforce the sale, there are statutory provisions which, for example, make it an offence to advertise something at a price you are not willing to sell at.  This is to prevent traders enticing customers in and then charging more.  Obviously, there is a defence in teh case of genuine mistake.  Therefore MOST shops will honour the price shown, even if it is not the correct one.

For example, I picked something up in a shop the other day, went to buy it, and it turned out to have TWO price stickers on it.  The manager immediately said we'll sell it at the lower of the two, even though the correct price was the higher.

Answer 7

If what they say is happening, and it is happening, yes, they have a right to sell at the correct price, either higher or lower.  

Answer 8

they have two choices they can either sell it at the marked price or they can withdraw it from sale

Answer 9

thats correct, the shop can simply not sell the item to you.

Answer 10

This is correct, in fact a shop is not legally obliged to sell you any goods if they choose not to.  

Answer 11

I don't think they are legally obliged. They are only obligated if it is an advertised price.  

I used to work at Macy's and people would write in a sale price on full price items all the time. The problem is, they always used a blue or black pen and when we marked down, we used purple ink. If they threw a big enough fit we sold it to them It used to make me so mad.  

Answer 12

Not true becuase of the way contract law applies.Although it sounds a little artificial - by displaying goods in a shop is not offering to sell the goods at the ticketed price.They are making "invitation to treat".In plain language it is an invitation to the shopper to make an make an offer for the item - the customer takes the item to the checkout and offers to buy it.At that point the price is fixed not by the ticketed price but by what the shop asks for and you pay.Your only remedy legally is to put the item back if you don't like the price.As I said all a bit artificial.In practice some stores will sometimes give customers the benefit of the doubt but this will only ever be a goodwill gesture.  

Answer 13

they don`t have to sell you the item at the ticket price if it is wrong but if they have already put the item through the till before realising it`s wrong then they can`t do anything about it.