Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

This Sunday I purchased 3 outfits at a store in California that sells indian clothing. I came home and then looked at the business website just out of curiosity. I discovered the same outifts I purchased at a significantly cheaper price - for example we were quoted 132 for an outfit she ultimately sold us at 120 and it was on the internet for 95 dollars. This is true for the other two outfits as well. Is this legal? I called the business owner at the store immediately, and they said they always have a lower price on the internet. This is a store that we have found does do significant bargaining on items - but usually b/c they start with an unreasonably high quote. The company owner was attempting to justify the difference by saying there is no overhead and employee time in the internet order - also as a customer I got the benefit of trying on the outfit. I feel these costs are to be absorbed by the company as a whole, not the consumer who comes into the store. On the owner's rationale I could come in, look and then order online and be better off financially. What does the law say about an advertised price and then charging more to the consumer who comes into the store?

The website is : http://www.sagarexclusive.com/


Asked on 12/03/09, 12:46 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

If you had relied on the internet prices -- and they weren't marked as "internet exclusives" -- then you'd be right to insist on getting the items for the advertised prices. However, since you saw the internet listings after you already had purchased the items, the store could have and did sell its goods in the store at whatever prices to which you and it agreed. As a gesture of goodwill, however, it might consider giving you an accommodation or a gift certificate for the difference (to promote your return to the store or its website to purchase more items).

Read more
Answered on 12/08/09, 1:25 pm
Melvin C. Belli The Belli Law Firm

I disagree, there is no law that says you cannot sell it at one price in your store and another on the internet.

Tell the owner that next time don�t shop there, and you will tell all you friends and post a negative but true common on one of those consumer websites like Yelp. That may cause him to reconsider.

Good luck, and best wishes for a happy new year.

Read more
Answered on 12/30/09, 10:17 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Consumer Law questions and answers in California