Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a $4.25 million, multistate settlement with Menards over their confusing rebate ads
When Wisconsin-based Menards’ marketing promised 11% off everything, customers thought they’d be getting an immediate discount.
Instead, they received a rebate for future purchases.
Allegations of deceptive advertising led Ohio and nine other states to sue the home improvement company. And on Dec. 18, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a $4.25 million, multistate settlement.
As part of the settlement, Menards must disclose the rules, limits and conditions of its rebate program. It cannot use advertisements that imply customers are receiving an immediate discount. In addition, customers will get at least one year to submit a rebate.
“Fine print shouldn’t cancel out big promises,” Yost said. “If a deal isn’t an immediate discount, companies need to say that plainly so consumers can make informed choices.”
Ohio will receive about $365,000 from the settlement. The money will go to the Consumer Protection Enforcement Fund, which allows the attorney general’s office to investigate predatory and illegal business practices.
Menards, in the settlement, denied that the ads were false, misleading or confusing to consumers.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at [email protected] or @jbalmert on X.
