Cartier Typo Leads to Unexpected Bargain for Lucky Doctor
CARTIER – Due to a typographical error on a website, a jewelry item from the luxury brand was mistakenly listed with a price tag of 237 Mexican pesos (approximately PHP799 or $15). The original price of the diamond-encrusted earrings was significantly higher, at 237,000 Mexican pesos (approximately PHP800,000 or $15,000), but it was listed without the three zeroes due to the error.
A Mexican doctor named Rogelio Villareal discovered this rare sale from Cartier, a renowned French luxury jeweler and watchmaker established in 1847. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) on April 20, 2024, detailing his discovery. While using his phone in the restroom, initially browsing expensive necklaces and dreaming of affording such luxury, he stumbled upon the astonishingly low price of the earrings. Shocked by the price, he immediately purchased the earrings.
When Cartier realized the typo, they attempted to negotiate with Rogelio, initially offering him champagne and a leather accessory to apologize for the mistake. However, the doctor was not satisfied with this offer, leading to a month-long public negotiation. Rogelio eventually brought the issue to the Mexican federal consumer protection agency, which sided with him. He announced on April 22 that “the war is over” and Cartier was complying. By April 25, he posted a picture of the earrings he received, complete with Cartier’s signature wax stamp.
The resolution was controversial. On X, Mexican Senator Lilly Tellez expressed disapproval, criticizing the doctor for exploiting the mistake and prioritizing opportunism over honor. She stated it was wrong to take advantage of a mistake and manipulate the situation for personal gain, even if legally permissible. The incident sparked a debate on whether the doctor’s actions were appropriate or if he should have behaved more honorably, despite the legal outcome favoring him.