Bait-and-switch: Difference between revisions

In the United States, the [[Federal Trade Commission|Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) has issued a Notice that it has determined that bait and switch sales practices are unfair or deceptive trade practices, and violate the FTC Act.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penalty Offenses Concerning Bait & Switch |url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/penalty-offenses/bait-switch |url-status=live |access-date=14 Apr 2025 |website=FTC |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206233839/https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/penalty-offenses/bait-switch |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SYNOPSIS OF FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION DECISIONS CONCERNING “BAIT AND SWITCH” SALES PRACTICES |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Bait-Switch.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=14 Apr 2025 |website=FTC}}</ref> And in December 2024, the Commission announced a "Bipartisan Rule Banning Junk Ticket and Hotel Fees", in an effort to end the hidden fees when buying tickets or accomodation:<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Dec 2024 |title=Federal Trade Commission Announces Bipartisan Rule Banning Junk Ticket and Hotel Fees |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/12/federal-trade-commission-announces-bipartisan-rule-banning-junk-ticket-hotel-fees |url-status=live |access-date=14 Apr 2025 |website=FTC}}</ref><blockquote>"The Junk Fees Rule will ensure that pricing information is presented in a timely, transparent, and truthful way to consumers of live-event tickets and short-term lodging, two industries whose pricing practices the Commission has studied in particular. Consumers searching for hotels or vacation rentals or seats at a show or sporting event will no longer be surprised by a pile of “resort,” “convenience,” or “service” fees inflating the advertised price. By requiring up-front disclosure of total price including fees, the rule will make comparison shopping easier, resulting in savings for consumers and leveling the competitive playing field."

== Historical cases ==