Shopped at Albertsons, Safeway, or Haggen? Let us know.
Cases like this often open the door to broader actions for consumers. Fill out the form to stay informed and get a free review of your situation.
On April 27, 2026, Washington State’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Albertsons — the company that also owns Safeway and Haggen — alleging the grocery chains ran deceptive “buy one, get one free” promotions for years while quietly raising prices to make the deals look better than they were.
How It Allegedly Worked
According to the lawsuit, from 2019 to 2024, stores would raise prices on items shortly before putting them on a BOGO deal. Once the promotion ended, prices would drop back down — making it look like shoppers got a great deal when, in reality, they were just paying for two items at a price the store had artificially inflated.
The state documented specific examples:
| Product | Store | Price Increase Before BOGO |
|---|---|---|
| Oroweat Premium Italian Bread | Albertsons, Tacoma | +16% |
| Olive oil | Albertsons, Gig Harbor | +57% |
| Mini watermelon | Safeway, Colville | +50% |
| Pimiento-stuffed olives | Albertsons, Renton | +84% |
Washington’s Attorney General says this happened in at least 3.1 million transactions and cost Washington shoppers nearly $19.7 million.
This Isn’t the First Time
In 2023, Albertsons agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle a separate case in Oregon over similar allegations involving BOGO pricing on meat products. That case was brought by Oregon shoppers who said the same pricing strategy was used there.
Stay informed — cases like this can open the door for consumers in other states.
Fill out the form to let us know about your experience. There is no cost and no obligation. If broader actions develop for shoppers in your state, we’ll be in touch.
Submit Your Information →What the State Is Asking For
Washington’s lawsuit seeks to:
- Bar Albertsons from running BOGO deals it can’t back up with honest baseline pricing
- Require the company to repay Washington shoppers
- Impose civil penalties on the company
What This Could Mean for Shoppers in Other States
This is a state government lawsuit, not a class action — meaning you won’t automatically receive a check in the mail. But cases like this have historically opened the door to broader actions where individual shoppers can file directly.
Grocery pricing deception has been investigated in multiple states as consumer protection agencies take a closer look at how supermarket chains set promotional prices. If you’ve shopped at any of these stores and want to know if there are options available to you, use the form below.
Common Questions
Which stores are part of this lawsuit?
The lawsuit covers Albertsons, Safeway, and Haggen — all of which are owned by the same company, Albertsons Companies.
Did this happen in other states too?
Albertsons settled a similar case in Oregon in 2023 for more than $100 million. Whether other states pursue their own actions is not yet known, but consumer advocates and regulators in several states have been monitoring grocery pricing practices closely.
How much did shoppers lose?
The state says Washington shoppers were overcharged by nearly $19.7 million across more than 3.1 million transactions between 2019 and 2024.
Can I get money back if I shopped there?
This is currently a state government lawsuit. If a class action is filed separately for shoppers, consumers may be able to file claims directly. Use the form to stay informed — we’ll reach out if options become available in your state.
What is a “deceptive” BOGO deal?
A deceptive BOGO deal is one where the store quietly raises the base price before the promotion, so the “free” item is already baked into what you’re paying. You’re not actually getting anything free — you’re paying full price for two items at an inflated rate.