Summary

Anna Tollison has filed a class action lawsuit against Subway, claiming its Steak & Cheese sandwich is falsely advertised to appear as if it contains 200% more meat than it actually does.

Tollison alleges that Subway’s misleading advertising causes consumers to overpay, which is concerning due to inflation.

Her lawyer said that while such cases often face dismissal, if this one proceeds, it could lead to compensation and class certification, allowing affected customers to seek refunds for the alleged misrepresentation.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    This is just one of the reasons we need deregulation. It’s a huge nuisance that we are not allowed to make false advertising. /s

    • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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      19 days ago

      Talk about false advertising. Tried to order contact lenses on Lens dot com the other day for someone. Advertised price with rebate seemed reasonable. Create account, (as they require that to proceed) go on about choosing options and filling in info.

      Only at the last order page, do they tack on $250 of “taxes and fees” (even though it’s a medical device so it’s not taxed) and then try to explain away in an info widget that taxes are “stuff we may be charged but we’re just making up this bullshit number.” Oh, and they charge shipping.

      1800contacts did not do either of these things. LensDirect seemed equally non-bullshit but their prices were a bit higher.

      How many people get scammed by the “taxes and fees” field figuring, “welp, I guess that’s just the price of America.”?

      Edit: de-hyperlinking the lens site, they don’t deserve any clicks, only hate.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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        19 days ago

        Here in EU it’s illegal to advertise to consumers without taxes. Regulation is cool when t protects consumers and the environment and it stimulate real competition, instead of the more sophisticated liar.
        I grief every time I hear some stupid Republican American call for more deregulation. Deregulation was also what made the banks fail.
        But somehow there is little response in USA against the minimal state you can drown in a bathtub?!
        Although it’s obviously worse to empower the mega corps and the mega rich, over a lawful state regulation against abusing power.

        Edit: de-hyperlinking the lens site, they don’t deserve any clicks, only hate.

        Good call. 😀

        • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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          17 days ago

          Oh man, seriously, regulations are the only thing keeping people safe or it would be junk fees all the way down. Take wireless phone service in the US right now, the main carriers say you have a rate plan of x, but then they tack on all the taxes and fees they have to pay and pass them onto you, saying they’re taxes you have to pay. The price also then varies depending on where you live, in some places the “taxes and fees” can add $15-20/month to a single phone line. Nowhere near the advertised price.

          Now, once or twice a year, they also add on new made up “fees” whenever their quarters aren’t looking as profitable as they expect, so you’ll see another $5/month or $7/month charge tacked on.

          Then they don’t let you pay your bill with a credit card if you want an “autopay discount” - a discount that used to exist for carriers to encourage people to stop using paper billing.

          More and more people are switching to paper billing and mailing in checks just to make those companies have to waste more money/resources for being so dickish.

          If they were regulated, they’d be forced to just have a flat price, you could pay with any money, and they’d still be profitable, and the bill would be less confusing.

  • TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    20 days ago

    We used to be a proper country with sandwich shops and delis and now we just got these company chains that can’t even manage to make a half decent chopped cheese!

    Subway is ass go to a dang deli!

    • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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      20 days ago

      While I agree with your overall sentiment, an italian sub customized to my preferences from WaWa of all places is effing delicious every last time, and they do not skimp on the quantity of meat.

        • hedgehogging_the_bed@lemmy.world
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          20 days ago

          It’s kinda more of a dairy and sandwich business with a gas station tacked on. Most of them didn’t even sell gas before 2000.

          • RebekahWSD@lemmy.world
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            19 days ago

            Closest wawa to me has no gas which I prefer.

            The quesadillas are good. At 2am. When maybe not very sober.

            The ice cream section use to be bigger, they cut that down to like one cabinet and I’m sad. They use to sell dove bars!!

        • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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          20 days ago

          Again, I agree with you. Doesn’t change the reality of that consistently awesome italian hoagie though. 😁

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      20 days ago

      FWIW, my teenager will only eat meatball subs if it comes to sandwiches (not even PB&J) and only if it comes from Subway.

      Sigh.

      • Cenzorrll@lemmy.world
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        20 days ago

        My step kid won’t eat PBJs, corn dogs, and thinks they like grilled cheese, but has yet to eat more than a few bites of restaurant grilled cheese. They love crab legs and lobster. My wallet is crying.

  • KaRunChiy@fedia.io
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    20 days ago

    I worked at a subway, and everytime we put new menu the images get more and more astranged from reality

    • r00ty@kbin.life
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      20 days ago

      Yeah, it’s not really new. In the movie Falling Down from 1993 (weird, I thought it was late 80s) has the whole scene where he’s complaining about the difference between the advert and what you’re served in a fast food place (well also that they wouldn’t serve breakfast because it was like a couple of minutes late and almost certainly had some still hot breakfast around, but that’s another story).

      It’s been this way for a long time, all over the world. I’d be amazed if this turned into a world changing case after all this time.

  • BossDj@lemm.ee
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    20 days ago

    Coincidentally got subway yesterday for the first time in years. Immediately noticed that the bread is less than half the width of what it used to be.

  • lunarul@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    Don’t those photos always have a small print disclaimer on them that says the actual product may not look like that or something along those lines? Is that enough to protect them in a lawsuit?

    • frayedpickles@lemmy.cafe
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      19 days ago

      Fun fact I’ve been told by laywers in a different industry (software ie EULA and licenses): most of that stuff doesn’t do anything. It’s a front door lock. But it’s ok because for most companies you’re also restricted by what lawyers say is ok (oh no we can’t use this “git” stuff, it’s GPL and GPL is literally going to murder you in your sleep it you use it!?!).