Pricing Errors in Online Shops: Does the Retailer Have to Deliver?
Every now and then a product appears at an obviously wrong price. Whether you get it at that price depends mainly on when the purchase contract is formed.
When is the purchase contract formed?
At many shops, the order confirmation email is only an acknowledgement of receipt. According to the terms and conditions (AGB) of many retailers, the contract is only formed with the shipping confirmation or delivery. Until then, the shop can usually cancel the order.
What if the contract already exists?
Even then, a retailer may in some circumstances be able to contest the contract on grounds of mistake, for example if a typo in the price is obvious. Whether this is effective in an individual case depends on the circumstances.
Is it worth ordering?
It generally does no harm to order if you're interested anyway. But expect the shop to cancel. Don't pay in advance (prepayment) to unknown retailers: extremely low prices are also a typical sign of fake shops.
How to spot fake shops
Check the legal notice (Impressum), reviews on independent sites and the payment methods. If secure payment options such as PayPal with buyer protection or buying on invoice are missing, be careful.
FAQ
Does a shop have to honour a pricing error?
Not necessarily. The contract is often only formed when the item ships, and until then the shop can cancel. This is not legal advice.
Is an extremely low price a sign of a fake shop?
Not always, but often. Check the legal notice, reviews and payment methods before you pay.
Read more
- Black Friday 2026 in Germany
- Deals by topic
- How to Spot Fake Discounts: Check Whether a Deal Is Real
- How to See Amazon Price History and Tell Whether a Price Is Good
- Set Up a Price Alert: Get Notified When the Price Drops
- UVP: What the Recommended Retail Price Means
- Right of Withdrawal for Online Purchases: 14-Day Returns Explained