"Sale" Should Mean Sale

[jeffrey]

A national clothing chain will reform its advertising practices as part of a legal settlement reached Tuesday with New York state.

Accused of potentially misleading customers, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers will no longer advertise items as "on sale" unless they actually are, said state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

The Hampsted, Md.-based company claimed in promotional material that merchandise was being offered for a short time at a discounted price. But Spitzer claimed that many of those items advertised were, in fact, almost continually on sale for as long as 18 months.

"Retailers have a fundamental obligation to be truthful and accurate with their advertising," Spitzer said in a statement announcing the settlement. "A 'sales price' or 'discount price' should mean that the items cost less than it usually does..." [read more at usatoday.com]