$45 Million Walmart Weighted Goods Settlement

“Everyday Low Prices”? Try “Everyday Low Ethics.” A massive $45 million class action settlement suggests that for years, the math at the Walmart register didn’t quite add up — and…

21 Jan 2026 by Companies Behaving Badly

“Everyday Low Prices”? Try “Everyday Low Ethics.”

A massive $45 million class action settlement suggests that for years, the math at the Walmart register didn’t quite add up — and funny enough, the errors always seemed to be in their favor.

The $45 Million Scandal

The lawsuit (Kukorinis v. Walmart Inc.) focused on how Walmart charged for “Weighted Goods” — specifically meat, poultry, pork, seafood, and bagged citrus.

The plaintiffs alleged that Walmart was playing fast and loose with the scales:

Sold-by-Weight Deception: The price per pound listed on the shelf was lower than the price per pound charged at the register.
The Bagged Citrus Trick: Walmart allegedly charged the full “weight” of bagged fruit even if the bag weighed slightly less than the advertised weight (e.g., a 5lb bag of oranges that only weighed 4.8lbs). You paid for fruit you didn’t get.

The “Great Value” Lie?

The most frustrating allegation was regarding clearance items. The lawsuit claimed that when Walmart marked down meat nearing its expiration date, the “sale” price was sometimes calculated based on an inflated original price, making the discount appear larger than it actually was. It’s classic gaslighting.

The Settlement & The Denial

The Walmart settlement claim window closed on June 5, 2024. Crucially, Walmart denied any wrongdoing. They paid the $45 million to “avoid the uncertainty and expense of further litigation.”

This is standard corporate procedure: Pay the fine (which is pocket change to them), but never admit the crime.

Why It Matters

This case highlights a vulnerability in modern retail. We trust the digital beep of the scanner. We assume the computer is impartial. But those computers are programmed by humans who are under immense pressure to increase margins.

The Takeaway: Always check your receipt. If you bought a 3lb roast, put it on your home scale. If it’s 2.8lbs, you were overcharged.

For more tips on how not to get scammed at the store, read our guide on How to Spot Weighted Goods Fraud.

Written by: Companies Behaving Badly

The team behind it all.

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