Walmart in Costa Rica was fined ¢4,395,000 colones (US$8,900 dollars) for “lack of information and misleading advertising” in a promotion of flat screen televisions.

The National Consumer Commission said it fined the giant retailer following an investigation into complaints by 58 consumers, for price differences in the retailer’s promotion “Día más barato del año” (lowest price day of the year) on December 1, 2012, a sale where consumers were enticed with prices so low, they were never seen before.

The complaints filed by customers say that the price at the “gondola” (shelf) was ¢17,800 colones, but ¢178,000 at check out, which shows they were improperly labeled. At the time of the incident, Walmart argued that someone, other than an employee, changed the price tag on the 32″ flat screen TV’s and refused to honor the tag price at checkout.

The Commission, in a majority vote, felt the consumers were duped by the pricing and the lack of information by the company was regarded as misleading advertising.

Article by QCostaRica.com