Originally Posted by
colpuck
I agree with you. However, there are laws that allow electronic sellers to back of transactions when there has been mistake due to computer error.
For example,
Amazon.com can reverse the sale of TV they sold for $0.02 and claim computer error.
There are real questions regarding the DOT's regulations regarding the sale of airline tickets and whether or not they prempt these sorts of laws. I will say the Airlines have never hesitated to claim premption when they want to avoid common law contract claims.
Again this is possible when you have received e-mail conf for the TV and had your CC charge (=received flight confirmation, had CC charges and even picked seats) but not AFTER TV delivery (= value paper delivered/e-ticket issued).
Flights tickets are unique compared to TVs etc in the way they make people organize their lives (like hotels, relocating etc). And as the contract is the basic fundament of the society (contrate de social, concept of marriage, and all forms trade etc etc) there must be strict rules to unilaterally cancel any contract. By all means do cancel but pay damage (= also benefit of trade).
There are some contracts that should be harder to cancel to keep the publics trust in the instrument. Could be cash, cheques, e-tickets etc.