In an extraordinary turn of events, a Mexican man managed to purchase a pair of Cartier diamond earrings worth $30,000 for just $14, following a pricing error on the luxury brand’s website. The saga, which unfolded over the span of several months, ended with Cartier honoring the purchase, thanks to the buyer’s persistence and legal action.
Rogelio Villarreal, from Tamaulipas, Mexico, discovered the unexpected deal in December 2023 while browsing Instagram. He stumbled upon an advertisement for Cartier’s 18k rose gold earrings, adorned with 142 brilliant-cut diamonds, priced at just 237 Mexican pesos (about $14 USD). Normally retailing for $14,000 (237,000 pesos), the earrings were offered at a price Villarreal couldn’t resist.
Excited by the prospect, Villarreal quickly made the purchase, intending to gift one of the earrings to his mother. “I was in disbelief when I saw the price. I immediately jumped on the opportunity,” he later posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on April 20, 2024.
However, Cartier soon reached out to him, explaining that the earrings had been listed at the wrong price due to a system error. The brand’s representatives tried to cancel the order, offering instead a “gesture of goodwill” in the form of Cartier Cuvée champagne and a leather item. But Villarreal was determined not to back down.
Citing Mexican consumer protection laws, Villarreal filed a complaint with PROFECO, Mexico’s consumer protection agency. He invoked a federal law which stipulates that businesses must honor the terms and conditions under which a product is sold. “I simply used the legal channels available to me to ensure my rights as a consumer were respected,” Villarreal shared.
The government agency summoned Cartier for arbitration in hopes of mediating the dispute. Just before the scheduled meeting, Cartier informed Villarreal that his earrings would be delivered by April 26, 2024. True to their word, the earrings arrived, and Villarreal shared a triumphant post on X: “War is over.”
He also uploaded an unboxing video on TikTok, which quickly went viral, amassing 2.1 million views. Opinions online were divided—some hailed Villarreal as a consumer hero, while others criticized his actions as exploitative. Regardless, the incident highlighted the importance of consumer rights in the face of corporate error.
In the end, Villarreal’s story serves as a reminder that persistence, combined with knowledge of consumer protection laws, can lead to unexpected victories—even when dealing with high-end brands like Cartier.
Related articles:
What Diamonds Does Cartier Use?
