World Market class action alleges website charges ‘junk fees’

Edited by: Top Class Actions | March 11, 2025

Category: Fees

Cost Plus World Market is a chain of specialty import retail stores — (Photo Credit: BCFC/shutterstock)

World Market class action lawsuit overview:

Who: Plaintiff Valerie Harvey filed a class action lawsuit against World Market LLC and Cost Plus World Market LLC.
Why: Harvey claims the companies unlawfully charge consumers “junk fees” when they shop online at World Market.
Where: The World Market class action lawsuit was filed in Alameda County Superior Court in California.

A new class action lawsuit alleges World Market unlawfully charges consumers “junk fees” when they shop online at the company’s website.

Plaintiff Valerie Harvey claims World Market lures consumers onto its website with the promise of a low price that does not actually exist since the advertised price fails to include various mandatory fees ultimately charged at checkout.

Harvey argues World Market adds mandatory fees on purportedly oversized items and charges handling fees and amounts for shipping that are not the actual cost of shipping.

“These fees are not disclosed in the advertised prices, misrepresenting to consumers the total price of the products they intend to buy,” the World Market class action says.

The lawsuit describes the practice as drip pricing, in which the full price of an item or service is gradually revealed to make the purchase appear cheaper than it actually is.

Harvey wants to represent a class of all individuals who purchased an item from World Market’s website who paid a fixed shipping fee and/or were charged mandatory oversized item surcharge or handling fees that were not advertised in the original price.

World Market class action claims fees make it difficult to compare prices

Harvey claims World Market’s hidden fees make it difficult for consumers to compare prices offered by different sites and consistently result in consumers spending considerably more than they otherwise would.

“The misrepresentations made by World Market and its decision to not disclose the fees it charges are part of a scheme to mislead consumers,” the World Market class action says.

The lawsuit accuses World Market of violating California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law.

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory and punitive damages for herself and all class members.

In 2012, Cost Plus World Market reached a class action lawsuit settlement with California consumers who were asked to provide their zip code during a credit card purchase.

Have you ever been charged “junk fees” while shopping online at World Market? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Phillip R. Poliner and Neil B. Fineman of Fineman Poliner LLP and Monique Olivier and Christian Schreiber of Olivier & Schreiber P.C.

The Cost Plus World Market class action lawsuit is Harvey v. World Market LLC, et al., Case No. 3:25-cv-01242, in the California Superior Court for Alameda County.