We mostly focus on improving government efficiency and effectiveness in Lake County, Florida, but I am extending our coverage to businesses that use deceptive practices that should be regulated more closely by government in Florida.
I get aggravated when I see retailers using mis-leading prices in advertisements. I come from California where they have stronger consumer protection laws than Florida.
For instance, Staples advertisements use the term "after easy rebate" instead of the more commonly used term "after mail-in rebate". Florida also apparently allows retailers to publish the net price after rebates in the largest type, while then describing the larger cash price paid at the cash register in much smaller type. In contrast, California requires the actual cash price to be in big type, and any rebates and net cost after rebates in smaller type. Thus the customer always sees the actual cash price in the largest type size. Additionally, California requires statements that sales tax is charged on the cash price and not the after rebate price. Florida doesn't apparently require that.
After looking at the Staples ads once again, I realized that that for rebated items, there is NO place where they say what amount is actually paid at the cashier by the customer. Instead, they might say "Shredder - $299.99 - $50 instant savings - $150 easy rebate = $99.99" Only the after rebate price of $99.99 is in big type, and no where do they describe that the cash price is $249.99 (which is the full price of $299.99 less the "instant savings" of $50). Thus the customer is forced to do mental math to even figure out what the cash price is, and that is also the price that sales tax is based upon.
What about some other retailers?
I looked at an OfficeMax ad, and they do not use rebates, only discounted actual cash prices.
Office Depot also shows the net price in large font, but they also accurately use the term "after mail in rebate" AND they specify the "in-store price". They don't show the full retail price, only the "in store" price which is after instant savings. Thus they actually don't overhype any savings. It is clear that Office Depot has adopted a more consumer accurate pricing policy than Staples in Florida.
Circuit City has confusing wording. They show a net price, such as "$529.97" (in large type) followed by TINY print that says "after $170 in Mfr. & $140 Circuit City Mail-in Rebates - Reg. $839.97". The confusing wording isn't clear whether the Mfr. discount is also a mail in rebate - it appears that the in store cash price is $839.97 but the true cash price is not disclosed anywhere.
Radio Shack doesn't use rebates and mostly shows the cash price in large font. There are a very few "instant rebates" for cell phones, but they are adequately explained.
Thus, in my opinion, Staples has the worst pricing policies, followed closely by Circuit City. Office Depot is more clear about cash prices, and Office Max and Radio Shack don't get into the "rebate" pricing shell game.
Florida needs stronger consumer laws to prevent retailers like Staples from over emphasizing prices after discount vs the actual cash paid price. I consider Staples to be unethical in their pricing practices.
vj
