Are you aware of the fact that a lawsuit against Walmart was a class action in nature and gained a lot of public interest, especially among shoppers and those who advocate for consumer rights? As a matter of fact, well, the retail giant aka Walmart faces accusations of “bait-and-switch” pricing, you know, where shelf prices appear lower than those charged at checkout. Just so you know though, the complaint had first been made in 2022, when a customer named Yoram Kahn noticed that the prices at Walmart stores were quite a bit lower on the store shelves than the ones he was being charged when he was at the register.
After doing some research, Kahn’s legal staff found out that this was a common scenario in other Walmart outlets as well, so they decided to sue on behalf of all such customers who had been wronged by such transaction practices. And that is what we now know as this famous Walmart Class Action Lawsuit, so, let’s just go over the details of it all.
The Claims Against Walmart
You see, according to the lawsuit, the pricing discrepancies in question are specifically related to “weighted goods”, such as fruits and vegetables, which are usually packaged. The allegation is that customers have been charged more for these products than the price that is indicated. In addition, customers claim that discounted or clearance items were actually charged at higher prices, and that turned out to be true. Consumers claim that these methods violate consumer protection laws which are there to guarantee that the displayed prices match what customers pay. In turn, though, Walmart, the supermarket, denies that it did anything wrong, and the reason for the case is its pricing practices.
Key Developments in the Legal Case
The case was initially dismissed by the court, which found that the way Walmart was a transparent company in the pricing information provided to customers on the receipt shielded them from liability. But, in the year 2024, the appellate court revived the case, saying that consumers could be misled by the price differences even if the receipt shows the correct total. For sure, this verdict was a key victory for the consumers named in the suit. Afterward, in April 2024, Walmart made the decision to settle for payment rather than drag the legal dispute further, and that’s what they did.
Who’s Eligible for Walmart’s $45 Million Settlement?
As for where things stand now, well, just so you know, Walmart has eventually decided to settle this lawsuit with a settlement price of $45 million. Can you even believe that? And the whole idea is to offer money to customers who might have been affected by the company’s deceptive practices. So yes, if you were affected by the shady pricing thing going on in the Walmart stores, then you’re pretty much eligible to apply for the settlement money and get your share.
Like, the total payment to each person will be determined by the customer’s quantity of shopping activities and the presence of the evidence substantiating them, together with the event of Walmart’s practices being illegal which must be proven. Without receipts, customers may receive $10 for up to 50 items, while those with receipts could be reimbursed up to 2% of their total purchases, though, capped at $500. The claims can be submitted online or by mail, but they have to be filed no later than June 5, 2024, and since this is the November month of 2024, that deadline is long gone. Though, whoever applied for it, received the payment in different forms of payment including Venmo, Zelle, or a mailed check that is sent over the mail.
