Ralph Lauren Uses Fake Prices in Factory Stores, Suit Says

Ralph Lauren Corp. and Ralph Lauren Retail Inc. trick factory store buyers with made-up reference prices that make people think they are getting a better deal, a new suit alleges.

Brenda Tripicchio’s proposed class suit is the latest to allege that a major clothing maker deceives customers with fake prices and illusory sales in its outlet stores.

Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Stores typically show merchandise selling prices with signs showing the “percent off” the reference price, Tripicchio alleges. But the sales are bogus because few items were ever sold at the reference price, which is a “wholly fictitious” price meant ...