When a retailer mistakenly sells Rs 79,990 iPad Air for Rs 1,500 and then asks customers to return it or pay more

Italian electronics retailer MediaWorld recently found itself in a bizarre situation after a pricing glitch allowed its loyalty program members to buy the 13-inch Apple iPad Air for just €15 (around Rs 1,500). The device’s original price is roughly Rs 79,990. According to a report by Wired, the retailer only caught the error 11 days later — by which time online orders had been delivered and many customers had picked up their iPads in-store.

In an attempt to correct the mistake, MediaWorld reached out to all affected buyers, asking them to either return the tablets or pay the remaining amount to match the actual pricing. The company is reportedly struggling with the recovery process since the original order terms did not specifically address pricing errors.

MediaWorld’s email to customers stated that the displayed price was “incorrect” and gave them two options — either keep the device and pay the difference or return it in exchange for a refund of €15, plus a €20 (about Rs 2,050) voucher as compensation.


What MediaWorld said
In a statement shared with Wired, a MediaWorld spokesperson described the situation as a “clearly identifiable technical error” triggered by an unexpected issue on its ecommerce platform. The incorrect price, the spokesperson said, was clearly unrealistic and “economically unsustainable,” forcing the retailer to take corrective action to restore the contractual balance.

The company emphasized that it aimed to handle the matter fairly and transparently:

Option 1: Keep the iPad — customers can retain their purchase by paying the difference between what they paid and the correct promotional price. MediaWorld says it is also offering an additional discount on the adjusted amount.

Option 2: Return the device — customers can give the iPad back at no cost and get a full refund, along with a MediaWorld voucher for the inconvenience.

MediaWorld added that it remains committed to improving the customer experience and ensuring better safeguards for shoppers going forward.