Walmart to Face Pricing-Related Lawsuit
Walmart is set to face a lawsuit alleging it often charges higher prices at checkout than the sticker price on-shelf, reports Reuters.
This comes after the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago reversed a lower court judge’s ruling, saying that consumers could try to prove in their proposed class action lawsuit that Walmart engaged in a fraudulent "bait-and-switch" that violated consumer protection laws, according to the report.
Lawyers for the consumers said they found price discrepancies in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Additionally, the issue was allegedly discovered in North Carolina even after a local regulator fined the retailer in 2022 for price-scanning errors.
The lawyers contend that most price discrepancies were minor; for example, a Walmart in New Jersey charged $3.64 for Crisco Pure Canola Oil versus the $3.12 price on-shelf.
“We are pleased with the opinion and look forward to vindicating the rights of Walmart customers," said Stanley Bernstein, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.
A spokesperson from Walmart sent the following statement to SFA News Daily: "We’ll always work to provide our customers everyday low prices they can count on. We are confident in the evidence and look forward to arguing our case." Full Story (Subscription Required)