Rogelio Villarreal, a resident of Mexico, recently experienced what could only be described as a retail victory when he successfully claimed two pairs of luxury earrings due to a pricing mistake by the renowned jeweler Cartier. The incident began when Villarreal, browsing Instagram, stumbled upon an advertisement for rose gold, diamond-encrusted earrings priced at an unbelievably low MX$237 (£11) per pair.
Reacting to this unexpected find, Villarreal recounted feeling overwhelmed with excitement. He quickly purchased two pairs of the earrings before Cartier corrected the mistake to the intended price of MX$237,000 (£11,046) per pair. The initial joy of securing such a bargain was soon met with disappointment when Cartier attempted to invalidate the purchase. The company offered Villarreal a full refund along with a bottle of champagne and a passport holder as a gesture of goodwill. However, Villarreal was not swayed and chose to pursue his claim to the earrings.
The matter escalated when Villarreal enlisted the help of Mexico’s consumer protection agency, which ultimately ruled in his favor after a four-month wait. This decision allowed him to retain the earrings, which in the U.K. would cost around £14,800 per pair, thus saving him approximately £29,500.
Villarreal’s ordeal garnered significant attention on social media platforms like TikTok, where he chronicled his journey and eventual triumph. The story reached a wide audience, adding to the public intrigue and discussion around consumer rights and corporate accountability.
When the earrings finally arrived, Villarreal shared his joy by posting a picture of himself wearing them, symbolizing not just a personal win but also a notable example of consumer rights prevailing. Cartier has remained silent on the matter, not responding to media requests for comment.
