Company's mistake becomes the client's problem

As an interior decorator and designer, I have been a regular client at Gelmar for the past 2 years. When drawing up quotes for my clients I often make use of Gelmar's website in order to select products and obtain cost information.<br> I recently selected a product based on the specification and price listed on Gelmar's website. I quoted my client based on this information, and the quote was accepted. When I went to my local Gelmar in Centurion to buy the relevant product, I discovered however that the online product specification was incorrect and therefore insufficient for my requirements. The correct product, which does meet the requirements, costs 3 times what I quoted my client.<br> Although the Centurion Branch staff were all very helpful, I was told (after Head Office had been consulted) that as this was a mistake of their Marketing Department, they could not supply me with the correct product at the price which I had quoted my client.<br> As a professional, I would consider it very unprofessional to pass this 'mistake' on to my client by charging him more than I originally quoted. It seems, however, that Gelmar finds it perfectly acceptable to pass their mistakes on to their clients.