Crate & Barrel faces class action alleging sales emails violate Washington’s CEMA

Crate & Barrel class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Two consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Crate & Barrel Holdings Inc. and Euromarket Designs Inc.
• Why: The plaintiffs allege the companies send consumers emails with misleading subject lines about sales and discounts.
• Where: The Crate & Barrel class action lawsuit was removed to Washington federal court.

Two consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Crate & Barrel and Euromarket Designs, claiming the companies send emails with misleading subject lines about sales and discounts.

Plaintiffs Alvaro Iniguez and Mary Ann Tolentino initially filed the Crate & Barrel class action lawsuit in Washington state court on June 9, alleging violations of the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) and the state’s consumer protection law.

Iniguez and Tolentino claim Crate & Barrel sends emails with subject lines that falsely advertise sales and discounts on its products. The plaintiffs allege these subject lines create a false sense of urgency, prompting consumers to make purchases they otherwise might not.

“Getting an advertised bargain is important to consumers,” the Crate & Barrel class action lawsuit says. “Consumers are more likely to purchase an item if it is advertised as a good deal.”

Crate & Barrel allegedly advertised limited-time sales that were later extended

The Crate & Barrel class action lawsuit claims sales deadlines are extended or reintroduced after “limited-time” offers. The plaintiffs point to emails with subject lines such as “Last Day: Up to 30% off the Spring Event” that were followed by emails stating the sale had been extended.

The lawsuit also claims the company’s emails mislead consumers about the extent of discounts, suggesting that products are regularly priced higher than they actually are.

The plaintiffs claim Crate & Barrel’s practices violate Washington’s CEMA, which prohibits false or misleading subject lines in commercial emails. They also claim the company’s actions violate the state’s consumer protection law.

The class action lawsuit seeks to represent a class of Washington residents who received promotional emails from Crate & Barrel with misleading subject lines about sales or discounts.

The plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief to prevent further violations as well as the greater of actual or statutory damages, treble damages and punitive damages where applicable.

In other fake sales allegations, a consumer is suing Bassett Furniture, accusing the company of a “massive and consistent” perpetual or near-perpetual false discount scheme.

Have you received emails with fake subject lines from Crate & Barrel? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Samuel J. Strauss and Raina C. Borrelli of Strauss Borrelli PLLC; M. Anderson Berry, Brook E. Garberding, Gregory Haroutunian and Brandon P. Jack of Emery Reddy P.C.; and Alexander E. Wolf of Milberg PLLC.

The Crate & Barrel class action lawsuit is Iniguez, et al. v. Crate & Barrel Holdings Inc., et al., Case No. 2:26-cv-02370, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

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