Deceptive Pricing Journal

Investigations, guides, and case-law explainers on California's 90-day price rule and the retailers that break it.

seasonal

Black Friday & Cyber Monday: The Deceptive Pricing Playbook

A season-by-season look at how holiday "doorbusters" get their inflated reference prices — and which tactics cross the legal line.

Aug 6, 2026

retail sector

Outlet Store Pricing: Why "Compare At" Signs Can Be Illegal

Outlet mall retailers face a wave of lawsuits over "compare at" tags on goods that never sold at mainline stores.

Aug 3, 2026

law explained

MSRP vs. List Price vs. "Compare At" — What Each Actually Means

Retailers use these terms interchangeably, but courts treat them very differently under California law.

Jul 31, 2026

consumer guide

How to Screenshot Deceptive Pricing as Legal Evidence

What courts and consumer attorneys look for in price screenshots — and the metadata mistakes that get evidence thrown out.

Jul 28, 2026

law explained

Landmark California Deceptive Pricing Lawsuits Every Shopper Should Know

From Kohl's to JCPenney to Michael Kors — the class actions that shaped how the 90-day rule is enforced today.

Jul 25, 2026

consumer guide

How to Spot a Fake Sale in 30 Seconds

A quick checklist shoppers can use at checkout to tell a real discount from a made-up one.

Jul 22, 2026

consumer guide

How Retailers Fake "Original" Prices — 6 Tactics to Watch For

Perma-sale strikethroughs, MSRP inflation, phantom compare-at prices — a field guide to the tactics that trigger 90-day price rule lawsuits.

Jul 19, 2026

law explained

What Is California's 90-Day Price Rule? A Consumer Guide

A plain-English breakdown of California Business & Professions Code §17501 — the 90-day rule that makes fake "was" prices illegal.

Jul 15, 2026