Apple Faces $150,000 Fine in New Jersey for Repeated Retail Pricing Violations
Apple Inc. has consented to a $150,000 civil penalty imposed by New Jersey state regulators following the discovery of persistent violations concerning pricing and refund policy disclosures in its retail outlets. This settlement concludes an extensive state investigation that revealed Apple’s ongoing noncompliance with pricing regulations established in a 2017 consent order.
State Identifies Recurring Violations
Consumer protection officials in New Jersey conducted thorough inspections of 11 Apple Stores across the state, uncovering multiple infractions. Inspectors noted the absence of price labels on display tables and accessories, as well as refund policies not being prominently displayed near cash registers or store entrances, both of which are mandated by state law.
These findings are directly linked to a 2017 agreement in which Apple committed to providing continuous pricing information for products such as iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and Apple Watches. Regulators had previously criticized Apple’s reliance on digital pricing systems that required customer interaction with devices to view prices, deeming this approach a violation of consumer protection laws.
Due to Apple’s failure to fully adhere to the terms of the 2017 agreement, the state has enforced financial penalties.
Regulatory Response
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin addressed the settlement in a public statement, emphasizing the importance of transparent pricing:
At a time when prices are skyrocketing, consumers deserve to know what they’re paying for products on the shelves. Once again, Apple has violated the law by failing to display the prices for products in their retail stores, keeping consumers in the dark. It’s bad enough when companies violate the law once. It’s even worse when they are held accountable and then engage in the same unlawful conduct again. There is no excuse for Apple’s repeated misconduct here, and consumers deserve better.
The state has characterized this agreement as the most substantial settlement ever achieved under the Merchandise Pricing Act.
Mandated Changes for Apple
As part of the settlement, Apple is required to implement significant changes in how it displays pricing information in its New Jersey stores. The company must:
– Clearly mark prices on all merchandise.
– Ensure that prices are visible with minimal interaction on devices.
– Position pricing information close enough for customers to view without assistance from staff.
Additionally, Apple is prohibited from requiring customers to interact with devices to obtain pricing information unless such prices are immediately and clearly displayed. The company is also obligated to post refund policies in conspicuous locations, including at registers and store entrances.
To date, Apple has not issued a public statement regarding the settlement.
A Pattern of Noncompliance
For New Jersey officials, this case underscores a pattern of repeated violations rather than isolated incidents. Despite Apple’s agreement in 2017 to comply with visible pricing laws, inspections conducted eight years later revealed widespread noncompliance across multiple retail locations.
The $150,000 penalty reflects the state’s commitment to enforcing consumer protection laws uniformly, emphasizing that even large retailers like Apple are not exempt from these regulations.
