Albertsons Offered Fake Discounts to Sell More Wine, Class Action Alleges

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Albertsons, alleging that the company used deceptive pricing tactics to mislead consumers about the discounts offered on wine products.

Consumers Affected: Consumers who purchased wine at Albertsons.

Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Albertsons falsely advertised wine products as being perpetually discounted, tricking customers into thinking they were getting a better deal than was actually offered, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff Nazzy Hassan filed the class action complaint against Albertsons Companies Inc. on Sept. 16 in an Oregon federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

Hassan, a Portland resident, alleges the supermarket giant misled consumers through deceptive sales practices. 

Albertsons Accused of False Advertising With Deceptive Member Prices

Hassan alleges Albertsons’ use of its "Member Price" discounts, commonly seen at its Safeway and Albertsons stores, are deceptive. According to the complaint, nearly all wine products were advertised with a "Member Price" alongside a strikethrough price that suggested consumers were receiving a substantial discount. 

However, Hassan claims these strikethrough prices were fictitious, as the wine products were never actually sold at the higher, original price.

In Aug. 2024, Hassan says she purchased a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvee from Safeway, advertised with a strikethrough price of $18.39 and a "Member" price of $12.64—a 31% discount. 

But she alleges that the product was never actually sold at the higher price and that Albertsons only used this strategy to boost sales and mislead consumers.

Lawsuit Claims Albertsons Violated Consumer Protection Laws With Misleading Pricing

Hassan claims that the allegedly misleading pricing tactics caused her and other consumers to believe they were purchasing higher-quality products at a discount. In reality, she says, the perceived bargain was a “deliberate attempt to increase sales.”

As a result, Hassan is looking to represent anyone who bought wines at Albertsons. She alleges the company’s use of false "reference pricing" violates both state and federal laws, including Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit seeks certification of the class action, damages of more than $5 million for the class, fees, costs and a jury trial.  

In July, Staples was hit with a class action lawsuit that accuses the retailer of deceptive pricing practices in its AutoRestock program. The lawsuit claims that Staples lures customers in with promises of discounts but then hides a mandatory $9.95 shipping fee until after checkout.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Hassan v. Albertsons Companies Inc.
• Case Number: 3:24-cv-01562-IM
• Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Stanton R. Gallegos, Jermaine F. Brown (Markowitz Herbold PC)
• Neal J. Deckant (Bursor & Fisher P.A.) 

Have you purchased wine at Albertsons and noticed the "Member Price" discounts? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.