Cartier, a luxury jewelry maker, made a mistake on their website by listing gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos instead of 237,000 pesos. Rogelio Villarreal, a Mexican man, stumbled upon this offer and ordered two sets. After months of back and forth between Villarreal and Cartier, he finally received the earrings at the advertised price. Villarreal faced public scrutiny for taking advantage of the mistake, but he defended himself by pointing out he had to fight for months and that the company had offered him a consolation prize instead of the jewelry.
Villarreal’s case attracted attention online, especially during Mexico’s presidential elections. Some criticized him for taking advantage of the mistaken price, while others supported his right to receive the advertised product at the advertised price. Villarreal, a doctor doing his medical residency, claimed to have suffered from bad luck financially and saw this as a rare opportunity to own a luxury item at a fraction of its retail price. He gave one set of earrings to his mother as a gift, and expressed relief at finally not being an underdog in life.
Jesus Montano, a spokesperson for Mexico’s consumer protection agency Profeco, confirmed that Villarreal had filed a complaint and that there was a conciliation hearing scheduled for May 3. However, Villarreal had already received his purchase by that time. Montano emphasized that companies need to respect published prices, and if a mistake is made, it is not the consumer’s fault. This reaffirmed Villarreal’s stance that he was entitled to the earrings at the advertised price.
Despite the public backlash, Villarreal seemed unbothered by the attention and simply wanted to move on from the incident. He made a statement online asking people to talk about something else, as he was tired of the earrings being the only thing people associated with him. Cartier did not respond to requests for comment on the situation. Villarreal felt fortunate to have been able to purchase the earrings at such a low price and saw it as a rare stroke of luck in his life.
In the end, Villarreal’s case highlighted the importance of companies honoring their advertised prices, even in the case of mistakes. It sparked a debate online about consumer rights and ethical behavior when it comes to purchasing goods at a discounted rate due to a mistake. Villarreal’s story demonstrated how one man was able to navigate a situation where he felt wronged by a company and eventually received what he believed he was entitled to. It served as a lesson for both consumers and businesses about the importance of transparency and accountability in transactions.
