Midwestern states secure $4.25M Menards settlement over rebates
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60-Second Summary
MADISON, Wis. Attorneys general announced Wednesday a $4.25 million settlement with Menard Inc., resolving allegations that the retailer deceptively advertised its 11% merchandise credit program and engaged in price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement, co-led by Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, requires Menards to disclose rebate terms, identify Rebates International as part of Menards, update rebate tracking within 48 hours, allow one year to file claims, and pay state shares including Wisconsin’s approximately $750,000. The settlement addresses alleged misleading advertising and price increases on four-gallon water at two Wisconsin stores. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.
About this summary
This 60-second summary was prepared by the JQJO editorial team after reviewing 11 original reports from Urban Milwaukee, Channel 3000, WAOW, KIMT-TV 3 Mason City, WFRV-TV Channel 5, Sandhills Express, WGBA, https://www.wsaw.com, SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports, INFORUM and WGEM.com.
Timeline of Events
- 2020: Consumer complaints and pandemic emergency declarations spark scrutiny of retailer pricing and rebate advertising.
- 2020–2025: Multistate coalition, co-led by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa, investigates Menards' rebate program and pricing at specific stores.
- Investigators document advertising of post-rebate prices, buried disclaimers, misrepresentation of Rebates International, and water price increases at two Wisconsin locations.
- States negotiate corrective measures, disclosure requirements, rebate-processing changes, and monetary remedies.
- Officials announce a $4.25 million settlement and state allocations; Menards agrees to operational changes and payments.
- Articles Published:
- 11
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 11
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%
Consumers and state consumer protection agencies benefited through clearer disclosure requirements, improved rebate processes, and monetary payments distributed among participating states.
Some Menards customers suffered confusion and potential overpayment due to misleading rebate advertising and alleged price increases during the pandemic.
After reading and researching latest news.... State attorneys general concluded a multistate probe found Menards misrepresented its 11% rebate as an immediate discount and raised prices on bottled water during pandemic emergency periods; the settlement requires clearer disclosures, operational changes, and $4.25 million in payments allocated to participating states nationwide.
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From Center
Midwestern states secure $4.25M Menards settlement over rebates
Urban Milwaukee Channel 3000 WAOW KIMT-TV 3 Mason City WFRV-TV Channel 5 Sandhills Express WGBA https://www.wsaw.com SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports INFORUM WGEM.comFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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