CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) — An Ohio man alleges Walmart is charging higher prices for the same products purchased in stores than if purchased online.
Kevin Adelstein filed a complaint last year in a Cuyahoga County municipal court against Walmart Inc., alleging violation of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, fraud and other claims. Walmart removed the case to Cleveland federal court on Jan. 13.
Adelstein, according to his complaint, viewed various items on Walmart's website, which showed they were available at a local Walmart in Aurora. He claims when he visited the store the same day to purchase those items, the prices were higher than what Walmart had advertised on its website.
Specifically, Adelstein claims a weed control preventer was advertised for $19.97 but he was charged $21.77 in store, and that other lawn care products he viewed online were $7 or more in the store than advertised on Walmart's website. He alleges Walmart knowingly violated Ohio consumer laws and that if advertised products are ordered online for store pickup, customers pay the advertised online price.
Adelstein claims that although Walmart store managers are able to honor prices from the company's website, consumers are not aware if they go into the store to purchase the advertised product, they are charged higher prices than listed on Walmart's website.
Adelstein seeks monetary relief, interest and all other just relief. He is represented by Ronald Frederick, Michael Berler and Jacquelyn Frederick of Frederick & Berler LLC in Cleveland and Laura DePledge of The Depledge Law Office Inc., in Mentor.