Penalty Amount
$150,000
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced a settlement with Apple Inc. over allegations of widespread merchandise pricing violations at 11 Apple stores statewide, including failure to display required pricing information and refund policies. Apple agreed to pay a $150,000 civil penalty, the largest-ever under New Jersey's Merchandise Pricing Act, and implement revised business practices to ensure clear pricing and refund policy disclosures. The settlement resolves violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and the 2017 consent order previously entered into by Apple.
Apple must pay a $150,000 civil penalty. It is also required to change its business practices to: (1) ensure all merchandise has a plainly marked total selling price via a stamp, tag, label, sign affixed to the merchandise, on the device screen upon limited interaction, or in close proximity to the merchandise; (2) not require consumers to interact with electronic devices to determine prices unless the price is clearly displayed with limited interaction; (3) conspicuously post refund policies for all merchandise via tags on merchandise, point-of-sale signage, cash register areas, or store entrances. These requirements are set forth in a consent order resolving the allegations.
In-house legal teams at retailers with physical store locations should review vendor and merchandise supply agreements to ensure terms require all products to have plainly marked prices via stamps, tags, labels, or signage in close proximity to merchandise, compliant with applicable state merchandise pricing acts. Store operations contracts and lease agreements should be audited for clauses governing in-store signage, point-of-sale displays, and refund policy posting requirements to ensure conspicuous disclosure as mandated by consumer fraud laws. Teams should also review existing consent orders or settlement agreements to confirm ongoing compliance, update compliance program clauses to include specific price display and refund policy requirements, and add employee training provisions to ensure staff adhere to pricing and disclosure obligations.
Entity
Apple Inc.
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.njoag.gov/ag-platkin-apple-inc-agrees-to-pay-150000-and-change-its-business-practices-to-resolve-allegations-of-widespread-pricing-violations-in-stores-throughout-new-jersey/
2026 0115 Apple Inc Consent Order
http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-0115_Apple-Inc-Consent-Order.pdf
New Jersey Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-consumer-affairs/
"Apple Inc. (“Apple”)"
"agreed to pay a $150,000 civil penalty"
"New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (“CFA”), specifically the Merchandise Pricing Act"
"For Immediate Release: January 15, 2026"
"allegations of widespread merchandise pricing violations in Apple stores throughout the state"
"pay a $150,000 civil penalty and change its business practices"
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$2.3M
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$694.0M
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$650K
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