web site backs out of confirmed sale

[signalot]

I purchased a lighting fixture that was advertised on a web site for a very good price. I sent my cc# and received a confirmation via e-mail. The next day I received an e-mail from the web site saying that they could not sell the item to me at that price and listed the price (hundreds higher)that they would sell it at. Isn't there a truth in advertising law for internet sales? They listed that same low price for 4 days AFTER I purchased it. Do I have any legal recourse? I am in Virginia and the web site is from California.

 

[loku]

e-mail sales contract

They may or may not have an obligation to sell the fixture at the advertised price, depending on circumstances. Usually an advertisement is not an offer, but is an invitation to buyers to make offers. However, when you did order the unit, that was your offer. Whether they are bound by the contract depends on what they confirmed via e-mail. If they merely confirmed that they had received your order, they may not be bound to the contract; if they accepted your offer by confirming the sale itself, then they are bound on it.

If they are bound on it, then you could probably sue them in Virginia Small Claims. However, you would have to go through the procedure of collection in California.