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Originally Posted by aurigus
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A store is under no obligation to sell goods at the price marked. The price marked is only an "invitation" and not an offer to sell the item at the stated price. The store can, until the contract is made, withdraw the article from sale just as you can change your mind about the purchase of the item. A legal contract does not exist until there is an agreement of sale or an actual exchange of money and goods. If there is a mistake in pricing, the store has the right to change the price before you buy it.
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Okay, this is true, but not binding. But more importantly to the store is that false representation of price is punishable by fines, EVEN IF THEY ARE MISTAKES.
That's right, they can refuse to sell you something at the price posted, but then Consumer and Commercial Affairs (a Federal agency), as well as the Competition Bureau (a Federal Retail Policing agency), can both swoop in and levy enormous fines, drawfing the cost of the inital error.
In such a case, if you remind the store manager of such possibilities, they will often sell you the item, then quickly make adjustments on the corporate side rather than face the wrath of the Comp. Bureau, a rather nasty and unscrupulous bunch if you have ever had dealings with them (I have).
So, are they obligated to sell at a mistaken price? No. Could it cost them $100,000 or many times that amount just to prove they're right? Yes. You still wouldn't get your item, but things would certainly change at the store level, and there'd be a few clerks and managers posting their resumes on Monster.ca!
Peace,
Pierre