in Newswire Published on October 19, 2023

GameStop Facing Class Action Over Allegedly False ‘Free Shipping’ Offers for Online Orders

Last Updated on November 7, 2023

Page v. GameStop Corporation

Filed: October 9, 2023 ◆§ 1:23-cv-01970

A class action lawsuit alleges GameStop deceptively “lures” consumers into making online purchases with false promises of free shipping should they spend a certain amount on their orders.

Defendant(s)

GameStop Corp.

Law(s)

Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act

State(s)

Ohio

Categories

Retail False Advertising Fraud

A proposed class action lawsuit alleges GameStop Corporation deceptively “lures” consumers into making online purchases with false promises of free shipping should they spend a certain amount on their orders.

Want to stay in the loop on class actions that matter to you? Sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter here.

The 17-page lawsuit says that despite the gaming and electronics retailer’s offer to provide free shipping to online customers who meet a minimum spend requirement, the company, in fact, “quietly and surreptitiously” adds a line item charge for “Shipping & Handling” at the moment of purchase.

The suit claims that if a shopper is “savvy enough” to notice they have been assessed shipping and handling fees on a purchase that should have qualified for free shipping, GameStop “further attempts to cover up its deception” by declaring that the consumer was charged only for handling, rather than shipping.

By “unfairly obscuring its shipping and handling charges,” the defendant fools customers into making purchases they otherwise would not have made and gains a wrongful advantage over competitors that accurately disclose their fees, the case contends.

The plaintiff, an Ohio resident, says he made a $131.08 purchase on GameStop’s website in August 2023. Although the company advertised that it was offering free shipping to online shoppers who placed orders over $79, the man was nevertheless charged a $7.99 shipping and handling fee at checkout, the complaint shares.

When the plaintiff contacted GameStop to question the fee, he was told that he had been charged merely for handling and not for shipping, the filing relays.

The case alleges that the defendant’s failure to honor its promise of free shipping is “unethical” and violates numerous state consumer protection laws.

The lawsuit looks to represent anyone in the United States who, within the applicable statute of limitations period, ordered products on the GameStop website that met the advertised minimum spend requirement and was charged a shipping and handling fee.

Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox – sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter here.

Case Spotlight

Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

Women who developed ovarian or uterine cancer after using hair relaxers such as Dark & Lovely and Motions may now have an opportunity to take legal action.

Read more here: Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuits

How Do I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?

Did you know there's usually nothing you need to do to join, sign up for, or add your name to new class action lawsuits when they're initially filed?

Read more here: How Do I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?