Costco Canada accused of overcharging online in proposed class-action lawsuit

Costco Canada is accused of charging more for products on its website in a new proposed class-action lawsuit.

The Quebec law firm Perrier Attorneys alleges that the plaintiff, Ibrahim El Bechara, was overcharged on several items sold on Costco.ca, including a flat-iron ($59.99 online, $49.99 in-store) and a blender ($84.99 online, $79.99 in-store). The firm argues that this constitutes “double ticketing,” an illegal practice in which a business charges a customer the higher of two or more clearly expressed prices.

Interestingly, Costco has been upfront about the price discrepancy between its in-store and online product offerings, noting on its website that “the same item offered on Costco.ca and in the warehouse [store] may not be sold at the same price.” Costco says these higher prices take into account shipping and handling fees that don’t apply to in-store products.

For now, the proposed lawsuit awaits court approval. That said, Perrier Attorneys invites Canadian Costco shoppers who feel that they’ve also been subject to alleged double-ticketing since December 23rd, 2022 to join the lawsuit.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Via: Montreal Gazette