OfficeMax Sued Over Rebates and Rainchecks
By George Anderson
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against the office supplies retailer, OfficeMax, for failing to honor rebates and offer customers a raincheck when sale items are not in stock.
In a released statement, Attorney General Jim Petro said, “Stores that use rebates and sales to lure in consumers must honor what they advertise, or they are in violation of Ohio consumer laws.”
A report by the Dayton Daily News said Mr. Petro’s office has received over 100 complaints about the chain’s stores in Ohio over the past two years. According to the same report, there have been over 300 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau against the chain during the same period.
Michelle Gatchell, a spokesperson for the Attorney General, said the chain has demonstrated a willingness to fix problems when brought to its attention but the suit was necessary to fix what appears to be an inherent problem with the business.
The lawsuit asks OfficeMax to fix the problem and reimburse customers who have received rebates or were unable to buy goods at the advertised sales price.
Moderator’s Comment: How far does the damage to OfficeMax’s reputation go beyond the customers originally involved when legal action is required to get
the chain to live up to its responsibility? –
George Anderson – Moderator