The bargain that wasn't

Consumer columnist Wendy Knowler helps a reader with her query about incorrect pricing at Edgars.

Zandile Dube wrote: Two weeks ago I went to Edgars in Sandton and in the shoe section I saw a shoe from the Jessica Simpson Collection which I liked. The displayed price was just R10,99.

"I took the shoe to the assistant and she confirmed that the price displayed on the shoe was R10,99, but she took me to her manager.

"He said the actual price was R1099 and that he’d call me back the next day to discuss the issue, but I never got that call.

Question: What are my rights as a consumer?

Answer: The Consumer Protection Act does not force retailers to honour a price if it is an “obvious mistake”. Most people would agree that R11 for a pair of celebrity branded shoes is an obvious mistake, so you can’t insist on being given those shoes at that price. But that should have been fully explained to you, with an apology for the mistake.

You can contact Wendy Knowler with your consumer issues via email: consumer@knowler.co.za or on Twitter: @wendyknowler