In the era of online shopping where consumers often search online to find a lower price for the same lighting fixtures they see in lighting stores, most showrooms offer price-matching in order to retain the sale.
Recently America’s largest lighting showroom chain, Lamps Plus, faced charges of allegedly “advertising false sales, misleading price matches, and deceptive prices” in a California courtroom.
Los Angeles County District Attorney (LADA) George Gascón announced last week that Lamps Plus, Inc. and its affiliates will pay $4.1 million to settle a civil lawsuit that alleged the retailer engaged in false advertising, misleading price match guarantees, and deceptive comparisons of its prices to competitors since at least March 2017.
According to LADA, its Consumer Protection Division – in partnership with the consumer protection units of the district attorneys’ offices of Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino counties – investigated the allegations. The case was filed in Riverside County Superior Court on September 4, 2024.
Lamps Plus has not admitted wrongdoing and has cooperated with the investigation.
Under the judgment, Lamps Plus is required to pay $3.8 million in civil penalties and $300,000 in investigative costs. The company is also prohibited from “false or misleading advertising,” including its 120-percent price protection policy, and from “advertising any price match guarantee policy in a false or misleading manner.”
California is among several states with strict consumer protection laws. Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington also have stringent laws regarding false advertising, consumer fraud, breach of warranty, and unfair/deceptive business practices. In several of those states, consumers are able to seek compensation for damages.
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