A seemingly innocuous typo on Cartier's website turned into a major headache for the luxury jewelry brand, but a big win for a man who got $13,000 earrings for $13.
The debacle unfolded when a customer in Mexico stumbled upon a jaw-dropping deal while casually browsing Instagram.
What caught his eye was a pair of gold-and-diamond earrings, typically priced at 237,000 pesos (over $13,000), listed for a mere 237 pesos (about $13), as reported by the New York Times.
Not including those three zeros by accident turned into a headache for Cartier.
Dr. Rogelio Villarreal, the fortunate first-time customer, recounted his initial disbelief upon spotting the ridiculously low price.
"When I saw the low price, I broke out in a cold sweat," he shared in a social media post.
However, what ensued was far from a smooth transaction. Villarreal's attempt to purchase the earrings triggered a prolonged dispute with Cartier, even capturing the attention of public figures.
Initially, Cartier attempted to rectify the error by canceling Villarreal's order and offering a token of apology in the form of champagne and a leather cardholder. Unimpressed, Villarreal escalated the matter to Mexico's federal consumer protection agency.
Explaining his stance, Villarreal highlighted Cartier's inconsistent response to the situation. "Their reasoning was difficult to understand," he told CBS MoneyWatch.
After months of back-and-forth, Cartier eventually relented and fulfilled Villarreal's order, providing him with two pairs of the coveted earrings – one for himself and another for his mother.
"War is over. Cartier is complying," Villarreal announced in an April 22 post, accompanied by images of the meticulously wrapped Cartier boxes.
However, not everyone applauded Villarreal's persistence. Mexican Senator Lilly Téllez criticized his actions, arguing against profiting from a retailer's mistake.
"It's wrong to be opportunistic and take advantage of a mistake at the expense of someone else," she stated on social media.
Despite the controversy, Villarreal sees a broader significance in the ordeal. "I was very happy when the earrings arrived, but the reality is they don't just represent a purchase," he remarked.
"This case helps make Mexican people aware of their basic rights, including those protected by consumer law."
.jpg_SHJm3T?tr=h-40)
.jpg_3izBdR?tr=h-40)
.jpg_SHJm3T?tr=h-184)
.jpg_3izBdR?tr=h-184)
