DA’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT IN $350,000

RIVERSIDE – Today, Dec. 10, 2019, District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced today that BevMo!, Inc. has been ordered to pay costs and penalties in a civil law enforcement case alleging BevMo! posted prices in stores and advertisements and then charged higher prices at the time of checkout. 

BevMo! paid $347,034 in penalties and costs to resolve the case. The company did not admit liability and cooperated in the investigation and resolution of the case.   

The Riverside County DA’s Office joined with the DA’s Offices in San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Clara counties in prosecuting this case. Under the settlement, Riverside County will receive $22,438 in costs and $70,700 in civil penalties from BevMo!  

The case stemmed from weights and measures investigations in eleven California counties which documented scanner overcharges during inspections at different BevMo! stores. The investigation revealed repeated instances of mispriced items on shelves as well as failure to charge the advertised price at the time of checkout. 

Under the terms of the stipulated judgment, BevMo! has agreed not to commit future violations and to initiate a pricing accuracy program in California. Additionally, the company will provide refunds directly to impacted customers through their customer loyalty program. Members holding BevMo! customer loyalty accounts who live in California and purchased mispriced items during the period covered in the complaint will be automatically credited a pro rata amount to their account. They do not have to apply for the credit. 

The case, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, was handled in Riverside County by Deputy DA Evan Goldsmith of the DA’s Consumer Protection Team. The final judgment was signed on Dec. 4, 2019, by San Diego County Superior Court Judge John S. Meyer.