1949 Oklahoma Law Limits Good Shopping Deals

1949 Oklahoma Law Limits Good Shopping Deals<br/><br/> <br/>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A state law passed in 1949 means shoppers in Oklahoma sometimes must pay more for merchandise than their counterparts in

Saturday, November 25th 2006, 2:28 pm

By: News On 6

1949 Oklahoma Law Limits Good Shopping Deals

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A state law passed in 1949 means shoppers in Oklahoma sometimes must pay more for merchandise than their counterparts in other states.

Oklahoma's Unfair Sales Act prohibits retailers from selling merchandise below cost and requires at least a 6 percent markup.

The result sometimes is much confusion and anger from consumers, who see items advertised for one price, then show up at a store only to learn the price is higher because of the state law.

Randie Case of Wilson says she went to an Ardmore Wal-Mart store when she saw a 52-inch widescreen TV advertised for $474. But in Oklahoma, the cost of that TV is $699.

Wal-Mart spokesman Bill Wertz says that even though a company's national ad lists one price, companies still must comply with state
law.

He says it's unfortunate that state laws cause unevenness in prices for shoppers in states like Oklahoma.