Luxury jewelry giant Cartier found itself in an unexpected spotlight recently when a Mexican man, Rogelio Villarreal, stumbled upon a jaw-dropping deal on their website. Known for its high-end products, Cartier inadvertently listed a pair of gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos ($14), instead of the correct price of 237,000 pesos ($14,000). Seizing the opportunity, Villarreal promptly ordered two sets.
However, what followed was a prolonged saga of negotiations and public attention. Villarreal, a medical resident, asserted that Cartier initially offered him a consolation prize instead of the earrings. Mexican officials eventually sided with Villarreal, affirming that the company should honor the advertised price.
After months of dispute, Villarreal finally received the earrings at the mistakenly listed price. He shared his unboxing experience online, but soon grew weary of the attention, expressing his desire for the focus to shift away from his unexpected windfall.
Villarreal’s case sparked heated debates online, particularly amidst Mexico’s charged political climate preceding the presidential elections. While some criticized Villarreal for capitalizing on Cartier’s error, others supported his stance, emphasizing the company’s responsibility to uphold the advertised price.
Jesús Montaño, spokesperson for Mexico’s consumer protection agency, confirmed Villarreal’s account of the ordeal, highlighting his efforts to seek resolution through official channels. Montaño underscored the principle that companies must honor published prices, even in the event of errors, shifting the onus away from consumers.
Despite the ethical debates swirling around the incident, Villarreal remains content with his unexpected acquisition. He shared that he gifted one pair of earrings to his mother, relishing the rare moment of not feeling like an underdog in his life.
Cartier declined to comment on the matter, leaving the spotlight on Villarreal’s remarkable stroke of luck amid a whirlwind of controversy and scrutiny.