Lamps Plus Class Action Says ‘Compare At’ Prices Mislead Customers

A recent class action lawsuit claims that lighting retailer Lamps Plus misleads consumers by implementing false “Compare At” prices which are reportedly more than 30 percent higher than the Lamps Plus price.

Lamps Plus coins itself as “The Nation’s Largest Lighting Retailer” and sells a variety of products ranging from lamps to light fixtures.

However, plaintiff Weimin Chen says the “Compare At” pricing scheme makes consumers believe they are receiving discounts on the fair market price of products which induces them to “pay more than they otherwise would have paid and to buy more than they otherwise would have bought.”

“Lamps Plus thereby deceives customers into believing that they are enjoying significant discounts on these (in fact) exclusive products as compared to the market price, and tricks customers into believing the products are worth more than they actually are,” Chen claims.

The Lamps Plus class action lawsuit states that Chen was duped by the “Compare At” pricing scheme in January 2015 when shopping for a bathroom light online.

After browsing the Lamps Plus website for some time, Chen reportedly found and clicked on a Possini Euro Design bathroom light which was represented as on sale for $129.95. Immediately below this price, Chen says there was a “Compare At” price of $254.99.

Based on Lamps Plus’ representations, Chen “reasonably” believed that the light he wanted was being offered at a discounted price of nearly 50 percent off the market price and purchased the item.

The Lamps Plus class action lawsuit claims that Chen was tricked again in 2016 by Lamps Plus’ representations when purchasing a mirror for one of his rental homes. He found a Noble Park mirror that he liked and allegedly noted that it was priced for $149.95 with a comparison price of $299.99. Believing he was getting a good deal, Chen purchased the mirror.

However, the plaintiff claims that the reference prices used by Lamps Plus do not reflect that market value of any other product. Instead, reference prices are allegedly used by Lamps Plus to manipulate customers and drive sales.

“Every ‘Compare At’ price Lamps Plus advertises is a false reference price that Lamps Plus has simply made up to artificially inflate the value of its products and to create the illusion of a bargain,” the Lamps Plus pricing class action lawsuit claims.

Similar class action allegations against Lamps Plus were recently resolved in a $16.7 million pricing settlement. Under this settlement, Class Members will be eligible to claim $18 price vouchers to receive discounts on Lamps Plus purchases.

Chen seeks to represent a Class of Washington consumers who purchased one or more exclusive products from Lamps Plus Inc. which were advertised or promoted by displaying a “Compare At” reference price.

The Lamps Plus pricing class action lawsuit seeks damages, disgorgement, restitution, court costs, attorneys’ fees, and other relief.

Chen and the proposed Class are represented by Daniel M. Hattis and Che Corrington of Hattis & Lukacs.

The Lamps Plus “Compare At” Pricing Scheme Class Action Lawsuit is Chen v. Lamps Plus Inc., et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-00119, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.