Kodak insists customers cough-up for 'bargain' cameras

Kodak is insisting customers who snapped up what appeared to be a cut-price range of digital cameras on its website will not receive their order - even though the company has admitted it mistakenly mis-priced the goods.

Kodak yesterday said human error had led to the DX3700 digital camera being advertised online for £100 for several days. The camera usually retails at £329.

And today it has issued a statement saying that customers who believed they were getting a bargain will not receive the cameras.

However, it will offer anyone who thought they were going to get one for £100 an unspecified discount the next time they order something online - as long as that's before the end of this month.

The company's statement reads: "Kodak regrets any inconvenience and disappointment caused to customers. Although Kodak will not sell the... product at the incorrect price, it will offer any affected customers a discount on their next order from the Shop@kodak website by the end of January 2002. Kodak does reserve the right to decline to accept any customer's offer to purchase, prior to payment."

Kodak refused to confirm how many customers had ordered the camera at the bargain price.

Argos was hit by a similar problem in 1999 when it inadvertently advertised the availability of TVs for just £3. It too refused to honour orders made at this price.