Retailer Makro Faces Backlash Over Pricing Errors on High-End Electronics

Retail giant Makro found itself at the centre of a pricing controversy over the weekend as customers were surprised to find high-end electronics listed at shockingly low prices on their online platform. The glitch led to products such as electronics being advertised for as little as R55, causing a frenzy among bargain hunters.

However, the excitement was short-lived as Makro was quick to address the error and issue an apology to customers. The retailer acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the pricing mishap on May 25 and stated that orders affected by the error would be cancelled as per the Consumer Protection Act section 23(9).

According to the Consumer Protection Act, if a displayed price is deemed to be a clear and inadvertent error, the supplier is not legally obliged to honor the incorrect pricing once it has been rectified and steps have been taken to notify affected consumers.

Customers who had hoped to snag a bargain were left disappointed as Makro rectified the pricing errors and clarified the situation. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of double-checking prices and being vigilant when encountering unusually low prices, especially on high-value items.

TimesLIVE reported on the incident, highlighting the widespread attention drawn to the pricing discrepancies and the subsequent reactions from customers who had attempted to take advantage of the mistakenly low prices on Makro’s online platform.