It seems some of that infamously fuzzy Target math finally caught up with the retailer, as the company has agreed to pay $3.9 million to settle a false-advertising lawsuit brought by prosecutors in California.
The lawsuit alleged that Target charged higher prices than those advertised, misrepresented how much products weighed and failed to ensure that price scanners were accurate, Bay Area prosecutors said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Target isn’t admitting any wrongdoing in the settlement, but will have to stick with a permanent injunction that bars it from making false or misleading statements, charging more than the lowest posted price in its stores and selling items in lower quantity than represented.
The company also promised to step up the number of price-accuracy audits and perform them more often at California stores, and train its employees to be on the lookout for inaccurate prices. It’ll be hiring an outside auditor to to make sure weights are accurate in its Target-branded products.
A spokesman said Tuesday that some issues come from promotional signs not being removed right after a promotion had ended, confusing customers who still thought they’d get that lower price.
“Target is 100 percent committed to accurately pricing its merchandise, and we’ve taken steps to fix the problem,” he said. “Any guest who feels she or he was overcharged for an item should bring their receipt to the Guest Service desk, where any pricing inaccuracies will be resolved.”
The office of Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian, said it “continues to protect the rights of consumers and educate them on consumer protection laws. A fundamental consumer right is to be charged no more than the lowest advertised price. Consumers should always notify retailers immediately when they are being overcharged and demand to be charged only the lowest advertised price.”
*Thanks for the tip, Ben H.!
Target agrees to pay $3.9 million in false-advertising suit [San Francisco Chronicle]
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
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