Taiwanese consumer agency fines Dell for not selling 19” LCD for just NT$500

On Thursday Taiwan's Consumer Protection Commission fined Dell NT$1 million (US$30,478, as of Thursday) for failing to meet sales obligations of heavily discounted products resulting from online pricing error. The computer maker held back sales of heavily discounted Latitude E4300 laptops and 19-inch monitors, after online glitches caused the product prices to drop to ridiculous figures.

The E4300 laptop was being sold for NT$18,558, a bargain compared to usual price of NT$69,000, while 19-inch LCD monitors were being offered for a miserly NT$500. In view of such low prices tens of thousands of orders were submitted by the customers but Dell declined those transactions.

Thereby, the Taiwanese agency ordered the company to recoup on the purchases made by consumers. Now Dell is collaborating with Taiwan authorities to find a solution to the pricing incident. The company reported that as soon as the glitches were detected Dell contacted affected consumers and offered discounts on the products.