Years ago, I was looking online to buy a Christmas gift for my son. He wanted a football jersey from his favorite player on the Philadelphia Eagles. It was only a week before Christmas, and I was desperate. The official NFL pro shop website was sold out and I couldn’t find what I wanted. As I dug deeper into my google search results, I found some questionable websites advertising my player’s jersey. In my desperation, I made the purchase. When it arrived on Christmas Eve, my heart sunk. The knock-off jersey looked nothing like what was advertised online. It was basically a piece of junk. The material was heavy and rough while the stitching was visible and poorly done. I was supremely disappointed, but thankfully my son didn’t care. He was young enough that he didn’t notice the inferior quality. I was lucky to get away with trusting a website that I never should have trusted.
Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Rampant Fraud on Walmart’s Marketplace
But what if the same thing happened when buying from a big brand-name website like Walmart’s online marketplace? Consumers should have higher expectations that what you see is what you get on trusted websites such as Walmart.com, right? Maybe not. A class action lawsuit recently filed in Delaware District Court alleges that Walmart’s online marketplace is a haven for scammers. See Artistic Industries, LLC, et al. v. Walmart, Inc., et al., No. 1:24-cv-01044 (D. Del.). The 291-page complaint exhaustively details an intricate scheme involving fraudulent sellers who are allowed to run rampant on Walmart’s marketplace. Walmart claims that it only allows qualified sellers to sell in its marketplace, but the complaint alleges massive fraud in onboarding new sellers and regulating existing sellers. After Amazon dethroned Walmart as the biggest retailer in 2021 by virtue of Amazon’s dominance in eCommerce retail, Walmart was allegedly motivated to get with the times and change the way it did business. According to the complaint, Walmart’s efforts to compete online have transformed Walmart’s marketplace into a racketeering enterprise.
Just imagine if you thought you were purchasing this miniature metal engine with tiny moving parts:
But what really came was this cheap hunk of plastic:
Get Legal Help for Online Fraud – Contact the Class Action Attorneys at Anapol Weiss Today
The harm to consumers is real. The laws for seller liability for breach of warranty can vary by jurisdiction. If you believe you have been scammed by a bait and switch scheme on Walmart.com, or any online marketplace, please get in touch with our experienced class action attorneys today. At Anapol Weiss, we have helped consumers from around the country and we look forward to helping you too. Call us today at 215-608-9645 or fill out our online contact form to get in contact with me, Kevin Fay, and anyone else on our Mass Torts team.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.