Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Stop & Shop, alleging the grocery chain engaged in deceptive pricing practices by advertising lower online prices for navel oranges but charging higher prices in-store.
Consumers Affected: Customers who purchased family-size bags of Stop & Shop navel oranges between August 9, 2020, and the present.
Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Stop & Shop has been slapped with a class action alleging the grocery chain ran a bait-and-switch scheme involving their family-size bags of Stop & Shop brand navel oranges.
Plaintiff James Williams filed the class action lawsuit against Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and its parent company Ahold Delhaizeon on Aug. 9 in a Massachusetts federal court, alleging deceptive pricing practices.
According to the lawsuit, Stop & Shop’s website advertised a lower price for the 8lb bags of oranges than what customers found in-store.
Williams claims the prices on the website and in the store differed by about $3, with the in-store price being higher.
The issue arises from the fact that the website prices were presented as applicable for both online and in-store purchases, yet customers who went to the stores found themselves confronted with a more expensive price tag for the same product, Williams alleges.
He says he and other consumers who saw the lower price online were led to believe they could purchase the oranges in-store at that price.
However, upon arrival, they were faced with either paying the higher in-store price or investing extra time and effort to comparison shop elsewhere, the lawsuit states.
“If these purchasers asked Stop & Shop personnel at the store about the web price, they were told that the store would not honor the lower web price,” it says.
The lawsuit claims that for customers who did not check the website beforehand, the in-store display did not include any information about the lower price available online.
As a result, these customers were deceived into paying the higher price without knowing there was a cheaper alternative.
Williams alleges that Stop & Shop’s practices amount to a classic “bait-and-switch” pricing scheme.
He says the company advertised lower prices with no intention of selling the oranges at that rate in-store, thereby misleading customers into making purchases under false pretenses.
This practice, the lawsuit claims, is not only deceptive but also unethical, leaving consumers with an unfair choice between paying more than they expected or going through the hassle of comparison shopping.
Williams seeks to represent all customers nationwide who purchased the family-size bag of Stop & Shop navel oranges between August 9, 2020, and now. He’s suing for unjust enrichment and violations of state consumer laws, and is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Meanwhile, Walmart is also facing a class action lawsuit alleging deceptive pricing practices, where customers are charged higher prices at checkout than those displayed on store shelves.
Case Details
Plaintiffs' Attorneys
Have you experienced a similar bait-and-switch pricing issue at Stop & Shop or any other retailer? Share your story in the comments below!
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