Stuff happens. It's a basic fact anyone involved with operating a website knows. Amazon.com knows it, eBay does, the U.S. government certainly does and so too does Walmart.
Yesterday, an unexpected glitch on Walmart.com caused prices on some items to drop dramatically. The retailer first, apparently, fixed the problem but was then left to figure out the resulting damage and a response to customers who took advantage of the deals that, as it turns out, were too good to be true.
Internet Retailer reported that news of Walmart's low prices hit social sites yesterday, including one deal on a Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine for $4.80. The deal advertised a savings of $244.20. The same item, which was later listed as out-of-stock on the site, has a price of $224.10 currently on Walmart.com.
By last night, Walmart appears to have determined who received unintended rollbacks and sent an email apologizing for the problem and cancelling their orders. The company said it would send anyone inconvenienced by the glitch a $10 e-gift card via e-mail for them to use on a future order.
Not everyone is happy with Walmart's response. Lila Ecker, a Walmart.com shopper from Grand Rapids, MI, told WOOD TV 8, "If you go to the store and something is marked wrong on the shelf, they will sell it to you for that price. So shouldn't they do the same thing online? I think so."