NEWARK — Advance Stores Company, a car parts and accessories retailer, agreed to pay almost $70,000 to settle claims by state officials that seven of its stores violated pricing laws.
The stores, operating under the name “Advance Auto Parts,” sold products at prices higher than what was listed on the displays, the state Division of Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection and the state Office of Weights and Measures said Wednesday in a press release.
Advance also failed to post the total price of certain parts and accessories up for sale, the state officials said.
“It’s vital that we hold merchants accountable for the accuracy of the pricing in their stores,” DCA Director Steve Lee said in the press release. “The Division is committed to taking action whenever necessary and sending a message that deceptive conduct will not be tolerated.”
The settlement payment will total $69,607.89, which includes $42,000 in civil penalties and $24,485.79 in attorneys’ fees and investigative costs.
The company also agreed to fix the accuracy of its pricing displays, start a monitoring program involving regular pricing audits in more than 100 stores across New Jersey, train general managers and other employees on the company’s pricing policies, and choose a corporate compliance coordinator to ensure that these changes are made, according to the state officials.
“Consumers should not have to worry whether the price advertised for merchandise is actually the price they pay,” Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in the press release. “Settlements such as this make it more likely that when consumers visit an auto parts store they will get what they pay for at the correct price.”
State officials said between Jan. 21, 2015, and Feb. 23, 2015, they visited seven stores in East Orange, Newark, Linden, East Brunswick, Bloomfield, Avenel and Fanwood and found certain products were priced at up to $4.84 Dumanbet more than what was posted on the item or the display.
A message left on Advance’s media relations line Wednesday was not immediately returned.
The DCA in March settled an investigation with AutoZone, Inc., which also agreed to change its business practices after the state agency alleged similar pricing violations.
Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati or on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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