Natori class action claims misleading email subject lines about sale deadlines

Natori class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Malika Bennett filed a class action lawsuit against The Natori Company Inc. 
• Why: Bennett claims Natori uses deceptive email subject lines to create a false sense of urgency and mislead consumers into making purchases. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Washington state court.

A new class action lawsuit accuses The Natori Company of violating Washington state law by sending deceptive commercial emails to shoppers. 

Plaintiff Malika Bennett claims Natori regularly uses promotional email subject lines with urgent headings that do not reflect the true availability of the advertised deals. 

“Natori spams Washington consumers, including [Bennett], with commercial emails whose subject lines employ various tactics to create a false sense of urgency in consumers’ minds and ultimately, from consumers’ wallets,” the class action lawsuit says. 

By deploying false time pressure with surprise extensions, which are allegedly disclosed only after the original promotion has ended, Natori allegedly compels consumers to purchase quickly while withholding terms needed to make informed buying decisions. 

The plaintiff alleges that Natori engages in the precise activity that the Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) prohibits.

Bennett wants to represent a class of Washington residents who received the allegedly misleading commercial emails. She claims Natori violated the CEMA and the Consumer Protection Act.

Class action alleges Natori uses various deceptive sales techniques

The class action lawsuit details how Natori’s marketing strategies are designed to mislead shoppers in Washington. Bennett claims the false conclusion of the “48 Hours Only” promotion is one element of Natori’s cohesive marketing strategy meant to compel consumers to purchase items from its website. 

She says that one day after warning consumers that the sale was ending, Natori extended the sale, thereby proving the falsity of the October 20 and 21 subject lines. Bennett claims this is part of a cohesive marketing strategy meant to compel consumers to purchase items. 

The class action lawsuit argues these practices are deceptive and intended to influence customer behavior by inflating the perception of a deal’s scarcity and value.

The complaint claims that consumers are driven to spend money they might not have otherwise spent if they had been provided with honest information. 

Bennett demands a jury trial and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, along with statutory damages, treble damages under Washington law and attorneys’ fees.

Using similar tactics, a class action lawsuit accuses fashion retailer Talbots of routinely running fake sales on its online store and in its brick-and-mortar locations.

Do you think Natori uses deceptive email marketing to pressure shoppers? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Strauss Borrelli PLLC.

The Natori class action lawsuit is Bennett v. The Natori Company, Inc., Case No. 26-2-03270-0 SEA, in the Superior Court of the State of Washington for the County of King.

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