Michigan and nine other states have settled allegations that Menards misled customers through its popular “11% Rebate Program” and engaged in price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Thursday.
Michigan will receive more than $637,000 as part of a $4.25 million multistate settlement with Menard Inc.
Nessel’s office received complaints starting in March 2020 that the home improvement chain’s stores had sold bleach, face masks and other products at higher costs than normal as the COVID-19 pandemic spread.
Michigan and other states involved in the settlement, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota, investigated claims that the retailer misled customers through its popular “11% Rebate Program” by providing credits for future purchases while giving buyers the impression they would receive cash payments.
“Advertisements should inform customers, not deceive them,” Nessel said in the Thursday release. “My office will continue working with attorneys general across the country to protect consumers from misleading marketing practices.”
Under the agreement, Menards must clearly disclose the terms of its rebate program, stop portraying store credit as a point-of-purchase discount, give consumers at least one year to submit rebate claims, and improve its online rebate tracking system, according to a news release from Nessel’s office. The company must also explore options for online rebate submissions and redemptions and is prohibited from price gouging in future emergencies, the release stated.
A Menards spokesperson did not immediately provide comment when reached by phone.
Nessel announced that Michigan joined 34 other states in a settlement with Hyundai and Kia over the sale of millions of vehicles lacking industry-standard engine immobilizer technology, a gap that fueled a nationwide surge in car thefts.
Under the settlement, the automakers agreed to equip all future U.S. vehicles with immobilizer technology and to offer free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners and lessees of eligible vehicles. Hyundai and Kia will also provide up to $4.5 million in restitution to consumers whose vehicles were damaged by theft or attempted theft, and another $4.5 million to states to cover investigation costs.
“Hyundai’s and Kia’s failure to include adequate anti-theft technology in millions of vehicles put countless Michiganders at risk,” Nessel said. “This settlement holds the companies accountable for compromising our public safety and provides meaningful relief to customers.”
Eligible vehicle owners will have one year from receiving notice to schedule installation of the ignition cylinder protectors at authorized dealerships. Consumers who installed software updates but still experienced theft or attempted theft on or after April 29, 2025, may also qualify for restitution.
Nessel also urged Michigan consumers to watch for payments from a $700 million nationwide settlement with Google over anticompetitive practices in the Google Play Store.
Consumers who made purchases on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023 began receiving notices earlier this month. In most cases, no claim form is required. Payments will be issued automatically through PayPal or Venmo once the settlement receives final court approval.
Consumers without PayPal or Venmo accounts, those who no longer have access to their Google account contact information, or those who believe they should have received a payment but did not will be able to participate in a supplemental claims process later.
“For almost seven years, Google conducted anticompetitive practices that held back innovation and hurt consumers,” Nessel said. “I am proud of the work this coalition has done to secure this settlement, and I encourage eligible Michiganders to make sure they receive the compensation they’re owed.”
Key deadlines include Feb. 19, 2026, for consumers who wish to opt out of the settlement or file objections, and an April 30, 2026, court hearing on final approval.
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