Best Buy Is Facing a Class Action Lawsuit Over Fake Reference Prices And False Advertising Were You One of the Shoppers They Fooled?

Best Buy is facing a false advertising class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging the retailer systematically advertised inflated “Was” prices on TVs and major appliances to manufacture the appearance of discounts that were never real. Four California residents filed the lawsuit on January 6, 2025, arguing that since at least February 2023, Best Buy has promoted perpetual discounts from reference prices it rarely, if ever, actually charged. No settlement has been reached, and the case remains in active litigation.

Best Buy Fake Discount Lawsuit — Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	January 6, 2025
Defendant	Best Buy Co., Inc.
Alleged Violation	California Unfair Competition Law (UCL), Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), False Advertising Law (FAL)
Who Is Affected	California residents who purchased TVs or major appliances from Best Buy or BestBuy.com with an advertised discount on or after February 2, 2023
Current Court Stage	Active litigation — class certification pending
Court & Jurisdiction	U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Lead Law Firm	Hattis & Lukacs (Daniel M. Hattis and Paul Karl Lukacs)
Next Hearing Date	TBD — not yet scheduled as of the last case update
Official Case Website	PACER.gov — search Case No. 4:25-cv-00134
Last Updated	May 11, 2026

What Is the Best Buy Fake Pricing Lawsuit About? Porchia et al. v. Best Buy Co., Inc., No. 4:25-cv-00134

The lawsuit alleges Best Buy engages in a systematic pricing scheme where it advertises perpetual discounts from so-called “Was” prices — prices it prefaces with language like “Was $3,799.99” or marks as “Reg” in order confirmation emails — even though those higher prices were never the actual selling price for those products.

California’s False Advertising Law (FAL) prohibits retailers from using a reference or “former” price in advertising unless that price genuinely reflected the prevailing market price during the 90 days preceding the sale. The lawsuit argues Best Buy broke that rule on a wide scale, across its retail stores and on BestBuy.com, covering product categories including refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, microwaves, and televisions.

The complaint also accuses Best Buy of deceptively promoting “limited-time” offers it knew would be extended or never end, creating a false sense of urgency designed to push consumers into buying products they might not have purchased otherwise. This is the core of the consumer fraud lawsuit — not one bad price tag, but a coordinated false advertising scheme.

A second, related false advertising class action has since been filed. Plaintiff Lauren Morgan filed Morgan v. MN Best Buy Co. Inc., Case No. 8:26-cv-00836, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging Best Buy advertises “Reg” and “Comp. Value” prices and corresponding “Save” calculations that never reflect the genuine prevailing retail price for the 90 days immediately preceding any sale, as required under California law. The Morgan case covers Insignia-branded products sold exclusively through Best Buy, where no other retailer even sells the product at the “Comp. Value” price advertised. For a broader look at how consumer fraud lawsuits like this one work, see the AllAboutLawyer.com guide to Apple’s $250M false advertising settlement.

Are You Part of the Best Buy Class Action Lawsuit?

Before anything else: you do not need to do anything right now to preserve your place in this case. Most class members are automatically included if they meet the criteria below. Here is how to know if this lawsuit covers you.

You may be part of this class if:

• You are a California resident
• You purchased a TV, refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, range, microwave, wall oven, cooktop, or freezer from a Best Buy retail store in California or from BestBuy.com
• Your purchase was made on or after February 2, 2023
• The product was advertised with a discount from a higher “Was,” “Reg,” or “Original” reference price at the time of purchase

You are likely NOT included if:

• You made your purchase outside the state of California
• You purchased a product category not covered by the suit (for example, small electronics accessories not listed in the complaint)
• You purchased before February 2, 2023

The proposed class covers all California residents who purchased televisions or major appliances from Best Buy that were advertised with discounts since February 2, 2023. The class covers both in-store and online purchases at BestBuy.com.

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If you want to pursue an individual claim instead of waiting for the class action, that is your right — a consumer rights lawyer or class action lawsuit attorney can advise you on that option based on your specific situation. You can find a free legal consultation through a licensed attorney in California.

What Are Best Buy Plaintiffs Seeking in This Lawsuit?

The plaintiffs are not asking for a fixed payment per person — that determination comes later, if the case succeeds. The plaintiffs are seeking restitution and disgorgement, meaning refunds for overpayments and disgorgement of profits Best Buy gained through the deceptive pricing scheme, as well as public injunctive relief requiring Best Buy to stop its false advertising practices.

The plaintiffs also seek damages, injunctive relief, and interest under California’s Unfair Competition Law, Consumers Legal Remedies Act, and False Advertising Law. The amount in controversy in the Porchia case exceeds $5,000,000, which is why it qualifies for federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2).

No money is available right now. No claim form exists yet. The case is in its early stages — Best Buy has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations, and class certification is still pending. If the court certifies the class and a settlement or judgment is reached, eligible California shoppers will receive official notice at that point. For context on how similar consumer fraud lawsuits have played out, see the AllAboutLawyer.com coverage of the Balance of Nature false advertising settlement.

What Should You Do If You Were Affected by Best Buy’s Pricing?

Right now, your most important step is to document your purchases. Save any receipts, order confirmations, and screenshots of the advertised prices that showed the “Was” reference price alongside the sale price. These records will matter if a settlement is reached and you need to file a claim.

You do not need to contact the court or the attorneys to be included. Most class members are included automatically if they meet the purchase criteria. If you want to take individual action — for example, if you believe your losses are significant enough to pursue on your own — consult a product liability attorney or a California consumer protection lawyer for a free legal consultation.

Monitor PACER.gov (Case No. 4:25-cv-00134) for case updates directly from the court. If the class is certified, Best Buy will be required to send notice to eligible consumers by mail, email, or publication.

Best Buy False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Porchia Lawsuit Filed	January 6, 2025
Morgan Lawsuit Filed	2026 (Central District of California)
Class Certification Motion	TBD — not yet filed as of May 2026
Last Major Court Ruling	TBD — case in early stage
Next Scheduled Hearing	TBD — not yet scheduled
Expected Settlement Timeline	TBD — no settlement negotiations confirmed; class certification must occur first

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Best Buy for fake prices? 

Yes. Plaintiffs Leroy Porchia, Allegra Porchia, Marilyn Kaye, and Aaron Lamoree filed a class action lawsuit against Best Buy Co., Inc. on January 6, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 4:25-cv-00134, alleging the retailer falsely advertised discounts on TVs and major appliances. A second suit, Morgan v. MN Best Buy Co. Inc., was filed in 2026 in the Central District of California covering Insignia products.

Do I need to do anything right now to be included? 

No. If you bought a TV or major appliance from Best Buy in California after February 2, 2023, at a discounted “Was” price, you are likely already within the proposed class. Save your purchase records and wait for official court notice if the class is certified.

When will a settlement be reached in the Best Buy case? 

TBD — the case has not reached the settlement stage. Class certification must be granted first, then discovery, and only then would settlement negotiations typically begin. Cases like this routinely take two to four years to resolve.

Can I file my own lawsuit against Best Buy instead?

 Yes. You can opt out of any class action and pursue an individual compensation for damages claim. Consult a class action lawsuit attorney before making that decision, because individual claims carry their own costs, timelines, and risks.

How will I know if the Best Buy lawsuit settles? 

If the case reaches a settlement, Best Buy will be required by the court to send direct notice to affected consumers by mail or email. You can also track updates directly at PACER.gov using Case No. 4:25-cv-00134.

What law did Best Buy allegedly violate? 

The lawsuits allege violations of California’s False Advertising Law (FAL), the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA). The complaints also reference FTC Guides Against Deceptive Pricing, which require that any former or reference price used in advertising must reflect the genuine price at which an item was sold for a reasonably substantial period.

What products does this lawsuit cover? 

The lawsuit covers TVs and major appliances sold by Best Buy, including refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, microwaves, wall ovens, cooktops, freezers, washers, and dryers. The Morgan lawsuit separately covers Insignia-branded products sold exclusively through Best Buy and BestBuy.com.

Has Best Buy responded to these allegations? 

As of the last available case update, Best Buy has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations in the Porchia case. Best Buy has not issued a public statement addressing the specific claims in either lawsuit.

Sources & References

• Porchia et al. v. Best Buy Co., Inc., Case No. 4:25-cv-00134, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California — PACER.gov
• Morgan v. MN Best Buy Co. Inc., Case No. 8:26-cv-00836, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California — PACER.gov
• FTC Guides Against Deceptive Pricing — ftc.gov
• California Business and Professions Code § 17501 (False Advertising Law) — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against official court records — PACER, Case No. 4:25-cv-00134, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California — on May 11, 2026. Last Updated: May 11, 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. Consult a qualified attorney for advice regarding your particular situation.