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Teh Kavveh
Teh Kavveh asked in Politics & GovernmentLaw & Ethics · 1 decade ago

Is it legal to sell an item for two prices?

Hey,

I was cheated out of some money by a retailer a while back and I need some help on figuring out whether or not it's legal.

Long version:

Retailer A operated a website, which we can call Retailer B. Retailer B sold "daily deals", offering a deal item that changed at random. All of Retailer B's inventory came from Retailer A. Under Retailer A's "boneyard" section, where they sold display, refurbished, broken, etc. items for a discounted price. One of these items was Item X in used condition, sold for $25 dollars plus shipping. One day, Retailer B offered for their daily deal of a "Mystery Box item type X", for $45 plus shipping I believe, with the same shipping charges as Item X on Retailer A. Now I purchased this "Mystery Box" expecting something worth my money; instead, I received Item X, the same Item X as was listed for $25 on Retailer A.

Short version:

So basically, a retailer sold something priced at $25 as a "mystery item" on another site they operated for $20 more.

Question:

Is this legal?

If not, what specific law would prohibit this?

Update:

I know it wouldn't be illegal if they said it was Item X on retailer B's website, but is it legal to charge someone extra by offering the item as a "mystery item"?

Update 2:

To make my question clearer... they didn't say it WAS Item X, they said it was in the same category as Item X.

And yes, the same person operates both websites (same paypal address for payment) and they were both used.

I'm not an idiot, and I realize paying more for something doesn't mean you get more; I'm not five years old.

Update 3:

OKAY.

We still seem to be having a challenge getting this.

If we're using the used car analogy, what if the used car at lot B was under a tarp, and it was a "mystery mid sized sedan"?

5 Answers

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  • ss27
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    No it is not illegal.

    First off, it sounds like the 25 dollar item was used and the 45 dollar item was new which is your more for your money.

    Second off, even if they were both used, it is not illegal. This is because when you buy from Retailer B, you have to pay their mark up. For instance, Coca-Cola sells their soda to grocery stores. When you buy directly from Coca-Cola, it will be cheaper than in stores because the grocery store doesn't have to make money. In the same way, retailer b is selling items they purchased from retailer a, so they have to have a price mark up to make money.

    Third, even if the same person owned both sites and they were both used, it is their choice if they want to have multiple prices. It wouldn't be smart but it is up to them.

    The only way they did something wrong is if you received a used item when it was listed as new. In this case you would simply complain and get a refund.

    Next time don't assume you get more just because you paid more.

  • Caoedhen
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Retailer A and B are the same, but A is using B to make serious money on the crap that won't sell on website A.

    Perfectly legal. You are free to buy, or not, any product that is offered for sale. If you make the decision to buy from B because it is a "deal" site, without checking other places that may sell the same product, it's all on you.

    Car lots do this crap all the time. I caught a local dealer... was at the lot on Wednesday. Looked at car... undecided. Came back on Saturday to look again, they were having "big markdown sale!". The car was $6,000 on Wednesday, but it was $8,500 on Saturday, which they said was marked down from $10,000.

  • Octopus
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    I'm pretty sure it's legal. Companies test market their prices. You can go to ebay, half, amazon where sellers sell the same items for different prices. There's no deception so why not?

  • Cantankerous
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Price discrimination is not illegal in the US, but it destroys the concept of supply and demand.

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  • Jim T
    1 decade ago

    every hospital in america does it

    1) Health care paid - price A

    2) Cash - double price A

    3) Illegal alien - free, paid by 1 and 2

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