eft-pos card

// so i break the law any time someone charges me the
// wrong price or scans a barcode that has been set up wrong?

only if you go back and buy 10 more, knowing that the price was wrong.

Acouple of years ago the tax on tobacco went up, my local was still selling them at the old price, a difference of close to $3, I told them once, was told old stock, told them twice explaining that tax increases were instant, the 3rd time, I thought stuff it and bought enough tobacco to last a month.

//So is this one of these wishy washy laws where if you could be 'reasonably expected' to realise that a price was wrong, you done bad?

Another possibility is that the "sale" hasn't been deemed to be done until the shopkeeper has assented. Typically, a price tag is known as an "invitation to treat" or something to that effect. So if you take it up to the counter and they say "Sorry, that price is an error", they don't have to honour the low price. If you view the price on the pump only as an invitation to treat, then perhaps this is a case of the owner doing that, but in this case, doing so after the transaction appears to be completed. It'd be interesting to know if there is much precedent on this.

//The latter makes me suspect that if it had been 10c cheap, they'd have little grounds, but the petrol was so cheap, you'd have to know that it was a mistake.

if u were taking notice or cared. but hypothetically there is a possibility that one or two
a) weren't ripping off the system
b) didn't secure any significant advantage

and in all likelihood they will be required to cover costs, ( be it a phone call or a quick ride to local constabulary) incurred by a service station's error. go new zealand consumers!

//How cheap is cheap enough? That's exactly what I'm getting at - is it just a judge's discretion as to whether you should know it was 'too' cheap?

Probably a judge's call. But in the case of petrol, the price is very standard, and when petrol does go on sale, it's usually a 5-10c discount per L, so I'd say anything more than 10% is probably too cheap.

// I've been told in the past that if someone like Bond & Bond print a price in their catalogue they're legally bound to honour that price. But the fact they always have apologies sitting on the front counter and it was a lecturer who told me (they don't live in the real world ;) ) makes me think this can't be true.

As long as it's not a regular thing, and it can be shown to be a genuine mistake, they don't have to honour it. Was this a commerce lecturer telling you this perchance?

see Limegreen's post above re: Contractual Mistakes Act

does no one know? here is a sample converstaion for some context:

"you're a munus"
"no, you're a munus"

My question is how did you write that question at 23:52 on 12 May 2006 when it's only 14:32 on 12 May 2006 now?

//doesn't know what time it is

Noizy, I know it's Friday, but surely it's not beer o'clock yet? Don't give the server liquor. It's underage.