AG fines Price Chopper over coupons
Posted at: 02/26/2013 1:29 PM
| Updated at: 02/26/2013 3:43 PM
By: Andrew Murphy
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ALBANY – State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Tuesday that Price Chopper has agreed to pay a $100,000 fine for misleading consumers when it came to coupons.
Price Chopper says that despite signing the agreement they are not admitting any intentional wrongdoing.
The agreement follows an investigation into complaints that Price Chopper failed to disclose restrictions on double coupons. The attorney general’s office says the grocery store chain advertised that it accepted double coupons without explaining a policy to limit them “up to 99 cents.”
“In the current economy, it is more important than ever that consumers be presented with clear information about the terms and conditions of coupons and other sale offers," Schneiderman said in a statement. "Today’s agreement ensures that consumers will be protected from misleading advertising at these stores in the future."
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Price Chopper spokesperson Mona Golub says the grocery store is upset with what she called the attorney general's "inflammatory" announcement.
Golub points out the claims were made against stores in Cortland and Syracuse during separate weeks in June 2011, March 2012 and April 2012.
"Our decision to sign this agreement was reached after considering the likely cost of alternative actions," Golub said, "and because settling the matter will allow us to focus on serving our customers.
In addition to the fine, the terms of the agreement require Price Chopper to clearly disclose any restrictions on coupons.
