E-shoppers pounce for €69 PCs

SHOPPERS thought they had landed the bargain of the year when Littlewoods were offering a home computer and monitor for €69 on its Irish website.

Those who spotted the deal moved quickly to scoop up the Compaq mini desktop that was also on sale on the British website for £469 (€550).

However despite some shoppers receiving order confirmations Littlewoods the company said the price displayed on the website was done so in error and it would not be selling the computers for €69.

It contacted customers affected and said it would be offering them a refund.

The Consumers’ Association of Ireland said retailers are entitled to make mistakes and offer a refund to customers for the original price paid.

However, the error sparked a lengthy internet discussion with many shoppers saying they felt they should get the computer for the price that was advertised.

One shopper said he “chanced his arm” and bought three computers while another said he purchased one but had “absolutely no use for it”.

The offer is understood to have stayed on the Littlewoods website for 24 hours but was removed yesterday.

Littlewoods failed to reply to queries asking how many people purchased the computer.

This is not the first time that mistakes have appeared on Irish websites. Earlier this month a mistake on Argos’s Irish website priced two corner couches at €119, which prompted eagle-eyed consumers to scoop up the offer.

However, as they waited for delivery of the sofa they were contacted by Argos, who told them the price was €1,199.99.