COUNTYWIDE : Store to Pay Penalties for ‘Sale’ Advertising

The Orange County district attorney’s office Friday announced settlement of a lawsuit that charged the Leather Center in Costa Mesa with misleading customers by advertising “sales” on furniture when in fact the alleged discounts were regular prices.

The Leather Center, which has nine stores throughout the state, agreed to pay penalties of $45,000, stop certain advertising practices related to the sales, and pay investigation costs, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Wendy Brough of the consumer protection unit.

Brough said the investigation began about a year ago in response to a consumer complaint over the price of a leather sofa, and focused on advertisements that the Costa Mesa Leather Center placed in local newspapers.

Nonsale prices were exaggerated in order to make customers believe they should hurry and purchase furniture, when in fact the sale prices remained in effect after the sale date expired, according to the complaint.

“If you think that something is on sale and you feel the urgency to buy it this week or next week, that forces you into making a purchase that you might not otherwise make,” Brough said. “It’s pretty common. But that still doesn’t make it OK.”

The practices violate the California Business and Professions Code, she said.