The net weight of a product doesn't include packaging.
Marin County just got a whopping rebate from the supermarket.
Albertsons Companies, Inc, which operates nine markets in Marin, agreed this month to pay $3.96 million to settle a civil suit regarding false advertising and unfair competition, the Marin County District Attorney’s Office announced.
The litigation against Albertsons—whose subsidiaries include Safeway—was filed in Marin in partnership with district attorneys offices of Alameda, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Sonoma and Ventura counties. The seven counties will split the settlement.
The district attorneys’ complaint alleges Albertsons (ACI) made false and misleading representations regarding some commodities sold based on weight. According to the complaint, ACI was responsible for determining the net weight of the products—which means the weight of a product not including the weight of any packaging. According to the County of Marin, “the ACI products at issue were sold either by weight, such as the net weight of the product multiplied by an advertised unit price (such as $1 per pound) or by a fixed price for a fixed net weight (such as $2.99 for a 16-ounce bag of tortilla chips).” Commodities included produce, meat, and baked goods.
But ACI failed to maintain adequate procedures and conduct employee training to ensure net weights determined and advertised by ACI were accurate, according to the complaint. As a result, consumers were overcharged based on inaccurate weights and also received less product by weight than represented by ACI.
As part of the agreement, ACI is enjoined from making any false or misleading statement regarding the price of any item offered for sale; charging an amount greater than the lowest advertised price; unlawfully selling products by gross weight; and selling commodities in less quantity than represented.
