Canon 800mm for under £1000 update...

Quite a few of you will have noticed the thread by NinetyEight who noticed that the 800mm f/5.6L lens was for sale on Calumet UK for less than £1000. I tried to buy one, but got this a minute ago... (I didn't want this new knowledge hidden at the back of the other thread so more people would waste their time)

'Good Morning

Unfortunately due to a computer error the price of the items you have ordered is incorrect and we have had to cancel your order.

I am very sorry for any inconvenience

Reece'


Email from Calumet a minute ago. It was worth a go...

I know this is frustrating, but I am quite sure it is legal

I did check for some advice on legal forums about whether a business has to sell at the price advertised but unfortunately this doesn't help:

Not necessarily, no. There is a 'palpable error' clause in UK law which says that a business does not have to honour prices falsely advertised as a result of gross error or sabotage. For instance if something was meant to cost £199, but due to a printing error was advertised as costing £1.99 - in such a situation a business can claim a palpable error. If there is no evidence that a communication error was made, they have to honour that price or refuse the sale completely, a failure to do one of the two wil put them in violation of the trade descriptions act - unless fineprint specifies otherwise (which it often does, ie it'll often say something like 'prices are a guide, we reserve the right to determine price at time of purchase').

In the UK NO. Everything that is for sale in legal terms is called "an invitation to treat". Shops do not have to sell things at the advertised price, the price may have been changed maliciously, either by the person buying it or an accomplice working in the shop.