Best Buy owes you a 52" flatscreen television for $9.99

Perhaps it's me, but I expect that when a company makes an offer that I accept they are bound to the deal. IF I try to back out of it, they will sue me and/or get bill collectors bugging my every move. Basic economics right?

Well Best Buy seems to think otherwise.

Now I understand mistakes happen. And I feel really bad for the guy who used to be the webmaster for Best Buy. But an offer is an offer. And if you made a deal with the company, it's a contract.

In fact, I recall that back in the 1950's nearly the same exact problem happened. I believe it was Sears that had an ad for a Black and White television for $13.99 in Sunday papers. It was supposed to be $139 or something like that. They tried to back out of the offer, and got sued.

If I am recalling this correctly, the Courts found that Sears (if it was them) was in the wrong and was obligated to provide the televisions at the advertised price. I think it was called the truth in advertising case. (If anyone knows for sure, please correct me where needed). And it was this case that created all the little disclaimers you see in every printed and most televised ads.

The question here is if Best Buy had such a disclaimer on their site and/or online ad. And that disclaimer had to be on the site at the time of the promotion. If they did not, they don't get an option. Like in the 1950's case they will have to provide the televisions at the offered price until they sell out of them.

Because they made a contract with the public. And even in these days of the Government breaking contract law, Joe Average and regular businesses of all sizes are still bound by that.

If Best Buy continues to balk at living up to it's words, and they did not have the disclaimer (if anyone has proof of this please do let me know) they need to be sued and forced to live to their word. Making other deals and refunds or whatever just doesn't cut it. And they know it.

There are rules out there, and sometimes people try to take advantage of the younger computer savvy generation with old laws they do not know, or the older less savvy generations with their lack of knowhow with the internet. Which I find distasteful.

No wonder the stock price was down. I think Wall Street smells blood in the water.