Loyalty program Fly Buys has found itself in a corner over the accidental one point iPad deal on its website on Monday.

“They could ask for the iPads back but good luck to them with that – it’s not a good look,” observed Consumer NZ advisor Maggie Edwards.

Edwards told Stuff.co.nz that Fly Buys did not have a special promotion deal and the iPad Airs were surrounded by normally priced iPads and electronics, so it was an obvious error.

“It’s an honest mistake – but Fly Buys did make a mistake.”

When the company discovered the error – after 600 iPads were bought by 126 members for one point instead of the usual 2800 – it said it would pursue purchasers and either charge them the correct price or take the goods back. But the potential damage to Fly Buys’ brand image and the likely negative publicity prompted a rethink.

Lawyers interviewed by Stuff seemed to agree the company would be within its legal rights to cancel the accidental deals.

Experienced consumer lawyer Rae Nield said customers should have recognised the error.

“An iPad for one point – yeah right. No one gets that kind of bargain”

She said consumers might argue they had a contract at the one cent price but they would lose any claim under the Contract Remedies Act and would have to return the products.

“…It’s hard to imagine an iPad user who would not know this was a mistake.”

Fly Buys said on Wednesday evening that while it would like the goods back, it would pursue legal action to recover them.