RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) — Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced March 6 that Hobby Lobby, an arts and crafts store, will pay $8,000 after allegations of violating the state’s Comparison Price Advertising Act and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.
According to allegations, Hobby Lobby would advertise discounts compared to other sellers but would fail to disclose what sellers they were referring to, which is required by law. These purported actions made it harder for consumers to actually figure out if they were receiving a good price.
The settlement of the case involves the $8,000 payment, which will go to toward civil penalties as well as attorney fees, and a permanent injunction that bars the company from further violations of the Comparison Price Advertising Act. Herring’s office filed the settlement, in the form of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, in the Circuit Court of Henrico County.
"Comparison shopping can be a useful tool for finding good deals but comparison price advertising only works if businesses are clear about their prices and how they compare to competitors," Herring said. "This settlement is going to give Virginia customers clearer, more accurate information that can help them find the items they want at the best price."