Blair'S Television & Music Company, Inc

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IN THE MATTER OF BLAIR’S TELEVISION & MUSIC. COMPANY, INC., ET AL. CONSENT ORDER, ETC., IN REGARD TO THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE : FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT Docket C-1539. Complaint, June. 4, 1969-——Decision, June 4, 1969 Consent order requiring a Chevy Chase, Md., appliance dealer to cease using bait and ‘switch. tactics,. misrepresenting: that offers to. sell are limited, and using deceptive pricing in the sale of its TV sets. COMPLAINT “Pursuant to the provisions ‘of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and by virtue of the authority vested in it by said Act, the Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that Blair’s Television & Music Company, Inc., a corporation, Blairs T.V.— Chevy Chase, Inc., a corporation, and C. Kemp: Devereux, individually and as an officer of said corporations, hereinafter: referred to as respondents, have violated the provisions of said Act, and it appearing to the. Commission that a proceeding by it in respect thereof would be in the public interest, hereby issues its complaint stating its charges in that respect as follows: PARAGRAPH 1. Respondent Blair’s Television & Music Company, - Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland, with its principal office and place of business located at 5422 Western Avenue, in the city of Chevy Chase, State of Maryland. Respondent Blairs T.V.—Chevy Chase, Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland, with its principal office and place of business located at 5422 Western Avenue, in the city of Chevy Chase, State of Maryland.

Respondent C. Kemp Devereux is an individual and an officer of the corporate respondents. He formulates, directs and controls the acts and practices of the corporate respondents, including the acts and practices hereinafter set forth. His address is the same as that of the corporate respondents. Par. 2. Respondents are now, and for some time last past have been, engaged in the advertising, offering for sale, sale and distribution of television sets and other merchandise to the public.

948 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION DECISIONS - Complaint 15 F.T.C.

Par. 3. In the course and conduct of their business, respondents now cause, and for some time last past have caused, their merchandise, when sold; to be shipped from their place of business in the State of Maryland to purchasers thereof located in various other States of the: United States and in the District of Columbia, and maintain; and at all. times mentioned herein have maintained, a substantial course of trade in said merchandise in commerce, as “commerce” is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Par. 4. In the course and conduct of their aforesaid business, and for the purpose of inducing ‘the purchase of their television sets and other merchandise, the respondents have made, and are now making, numerous statements and representations in advertisements inserted in newspapers.of which the following are typical and illustrative, but not all.inclusive thereof.* ~Par. 5. By and through. the use of the above-quoted: statements and representations, and others of similar import and-meaning but not expressly:.set out herein, the respondents have repre-. sented, and..are now representing, directly or by: implication. that: | 7 uae 1. The offers set forth in | gaid advertiseniénts are bona fide offers to sell the advertised merchandise at the prices and on the terms and conditions stated.

2. By and through the use of terms such as “Television Sale!” and other terms of similar import and meaning, that respondents’ television sets are being offered for sale at special or reduced prices, and purchasers thereby afforded savings from respondents’ regular selling prices.

3. By and through the use of the words “Thursday Only” and other words of similar import and meaning, that respondents’ merchandise was being offered for sale at the stated price for.a limited period of time.

Par. 6. In truth and in fact: :

1. The offers set forth in said advertisements were not bona fide offers to sell the advertised merchandise at the prices and on the terms stated, but were made for the purpose of attracting prospective purchasers into respondents’ place of business in order that respondents’ salesmen might sell them other, more expensive merchandise. Respondents’ salesmen made no effort to sell the advertised merchandise, but told prospective purchasers in *Pictorial advertisements omitted in printing. BLAIR’S TELEVISION & MUSIC Co., INC., ET AL. 949 947 © Complaint.

many instances that the advertised merchandise was not on hand to. be demonstrated. When demonstrated, the advertised television sets were so out of adjustment that customers usually rejected them on sight due to the unacceptably poor picture quality. Concurrently, a higher priced television set, properly adjusted and with. a clear picture, was demonstrated side by side with the chandise was disparaged5 1 2 1 7 4 1198 899 86 47 67.930908 ‘ands 1 2 1 7 5 1318 894 202 64 93.027901 demeaned.5 1 2 1 7 6 1553 896 66 55 73.818588 By5 1 2 1 7 7 1630 895 110 50 84.032425 these5 1 2 1 7 8 1770 912 90 37 89.100174 ands 1 2 1 7 9 1877 906 103 38 83.662758 other4 1 2 1 8 0 655 951 1326 59 -1 5 1 2 1 8 1 655 956 139 46 96.610779 tactics,5 1 2 1 8 2 813 956 177 47 96.501183 purchases 1 2 1 8 3 1009 965 40 32 96.422897 of5 1 2 1 8 4 1066 965 62 32 96.635361 thes 1 2 1 8 5 1147 961 205 36 96.745071 advertised5 1 2 1 8 6 1372 962 264 45 96.466408 merchandise5 1 2 1 8 7 1639 973 76 23 96.605415 was5 1 2 1 8 8 1735 951 246 59 96.238266 discouraged,4 1 2 1 9 0 655 1003 1324 65 -1 5 1 2 1 9 1 655 1015 332 40 91.986488 and.respondents5 1 2 1 9 2 1012 1015 158 39 96.278816 through5 1 2 1 9 3 1195 1015 97 37 96.189079 theirs 1 2 1 9 4 1318 1014 175 34 96.189079 salesmen5 1 2 1 9 5 1510 1003 210 65 96.572342 attempted5 1 2 1 9 6 1744 1014 43 47 95.189888 to5 1 2 1 9 7 1808 1013 81 32 96.257080 ands 1 2 1 9 8 1897 1008 82 37 57.819942 ‘fre-4 1 2 1 10 0 655 1059 942 64 -1 5 1 2 1 10 1 655 1061 154 51 65.776749 quently5 1 2 1 10 2 814 1059 61 57 97.010643 did5 1 2 1 10 3 888 1064 63 48 96.963509 sells 1 2 1 10 4 963 1065 62 45 96.963509 thes 1 2 1 10 5 1036 1065 131 47 96.928261 higher5 1 2 1 10 6 1178 1060 129 63 96.964676 priced5 1 2 1 10 7 1315 1064 282 34 95.118652 merchandise.5 1 2 1 10 8 1587 1060 12 48 31.721924 |2 1 3 0 0 0 640 1105 1341 536 -1 3 1 3 1 0 0 640 1105 1341 169 -1 4 1 3 1 1 0 700 1105 1281 75 -1 5 1 3 1 1 1 700 1133 32 31 92.510620 2.5 1 3 1 1 2 759 1108 259 72 94.022118 Respondents’5 1 3 1 1 3 1042 1113 257 63 96.545967 merchandise5 1 3 1 1 4 1312 1142 88 33 79.034081 was,5 1 3 1 1 5 1411 1124 64 40 96.266228 not5 1 3 1 1 6 1496 1116 120 60 96.821342 beings 1 3 1 1 7 1627 1105 136 70 95.293968 offered5 1 3 1 1 8 1781 1132 45 31 87.803925 at5 1 3 1 1 9 1849 1113 132 57 96.225212 special4 1 3 1 2 0 655 1169 1324 62 -1 5 1 3 1 2 1 655 1193 42 22 96.793625 or5 1 3 1 2 2 726 1183 152 38 96.049477 reduced5 1 3 1 2 3 908 1183 129 43 92.660767 prices,5 1 3 1 2 4 1061 1183 78 32 91.932671 .ands 1 3 1 2 5 1169 1169 222 62 96.637970 purchasers5 1 3 1 2 6 1417 1192 100 31 96.602715 were5 1 3 1 2 7 1542 1182 64 41 96.373734 not5 1 3 1 2 8 1634 1181 150 39 96.133247 thereby5 1 3 1 2 9 1816 1181 163 47 96.133247 afforded4 1 3 1 3 0 640 1229 982 58 -1 5 1 3 1 3 1 640 1233 163 39 0.000000 “savings5 1 3 1 3 2 816 1233 102 33 96.283081 from.5 1 3 1 3 3 926 1229 248 58 96.376396 respondents’5 1 3 1 3 4 1188 1233 145 44 96.734924 regular5 1 3 1 3 5 1347 1224 128 48 93.159523 selling5 1 3 1 3 6 1488 1227 134 45 87.667236 prices..3 1 3 2 0 0 654 1266 1325 210 -1 4 1 3 2 1 0 676 1266 1303 69 -1 5 1 3 2 1 1 676 1309 6 7 59.505764 -5 1 3 2 1 2 708 1292 54 32 0.560745 8.-5 1 3 2 1 3 759 1292 251 39 76.736176 Respondents:5 1 3 2 1 4 1030 1301 96 24 76.736176 were5 1 3 2 1 5 1150 1293 63 31 96.295303 not5 1 3 2 1 6 1236 1292 164 39 72.129318 offering:5 1 3 2 1 7 1417 1292 61 32 96.028000 thes 1 3 2 1 8 1503 1291 204 35 96.743042 advertised5 1 3 2 1 9 1732 1266 247 69 96.585327 merchandise4 1 3 2 2 0 650 1311 1329 70 -1 5 1 3 2 2 1 650 1311 55 63 74.145462 at.5 1 3 2 2 2 711 1342 62 32 80.484161 thes 1 3 2 2 3 792 1342 121 34 89.581940 stated5 1 3 2 2 4 929 1342 105 39 51.040226 price.5 1 3 2 2 5 1046 1342 113 33 51.040226 for-a5 1 3 2 2 6 1167 1343 138 33 95.125404 limited5 1 3 2 2 7 1324 1342 125 39 96.633377 periods 1 3 2 2 8 1470 1343 39 36 96.759232 of5 1 3 2 2 9 1528 1342 97 35 96.734573 time.5 1 3 2 2 10 1648 1341 74 33 96.734573 Thes 1 3 2 2 11 1742 1340 133 34 96.713264 stated5 1 3 2 2 12 1880 1341 99 39 45.596565 price4 1 3 2 3 0 654 1389 1325 75 -1 5 1 3 2 3 1 654 1402 76 23 88.808281 was5 1 3 2 3 2 749 1392 63 33 88.808281 thes 1 3 2 3 3 833 1393 112 32 72.740784 usual5 1 3 2 3 4 956 1393 72 32 79.510750 and.5 1 3 2 3 5 1048 1393 146 39 95.213219 regular5 1 3 2 3 6 1216 1389 168 72 46.194042 offering.5 1 3 2 3 7 1393 1392 99 39 96.866432 prices 1 3 2 3 8 1513 1392 205 72 96.135475 advertised5 1 3 2 3 9 1740 1392 47 72 96.896881 by5 1 3 2 3 10 1810 1391 169 39 91.585152 respond-4 1 3 2 4 0 654 1443 902 33 -1 5 1 3 2 4 1 654 1443 80 32 96.678658 ents5 1 3 2 4 2 745 1443 63 33 96.751770 for5 1 3 2 4 3 821 1438 88 38 96.170853 such5 1 3 2 4 4 922 1443 258 36 95.933456 merchandise.5 1 3 2 4 5 1555 1464 1 3 38.702206 :3 1 3 3 0 0 652 1472 1326 169 -1 4 1 3 3 1 0 667 1472 1311 68 -1 5 1 3 3 1 1 667 1508 24 17 0.000000 ~:5 1 3 3 1 2 700 1501 206 39 96.610390 Therefore,5 1 3 3 1 3 929 1502 63 32 96.454330 thes 1 3 3 1 4 1013 1503 213 31 96.442398 statements5 1 3 3 1 5 1249 1502 72 32 96.277054 ands 1 3 3 1 6 1343 1472 314 68 93.390099 representations5 1 3 3 1 7 1673 1511 41 22 96.853516 as5 1 3 3 1 8 1738 1477 54 56 96.904022 sets 1 3 3 1 9 1815 1472 102 63 96.938278 forth5 1 3 3 1 10 1942 1500 36 32 96.176956 in4 1 3 3 2 0 652 1550 1325 65 -1 5 1 3 3 2 1 652 1552 227 39 96.048157 paragraphs5 1 3 3 2 2 901 1552 85 32 96.661537 four5 1 3 3 2 3 1008 1550 72 34 96.616127 ands 1 3 3 2 4 1101 1552 68 32 96.616127 five5 1 3 3 2 5 1190 1552 127 63 96.941040 hereof5 1 3 3 2 6 1339 1562 95 22 96.586281 were5 1 3 3 2 7 1456 1552 82 32 95.343018 ands 1 3 3 2 8 1549 1561 64 23 96.874031 ares 1 3 3 2 9 1634 1551 104 64 96.611412 false,5 1 3 3 2 10 1761 1551 216 38 96.523331 misleading4 1 3 3 3 0 653 1602 565 39 -1 5 1 3 3 3 1 653 1602 72 32 96.500916 ands 1 3 3 3 2 739 1602 192 39 96.185654 deceptive.2 1 4 0 0 0 652 1677 1324 242 -1 3 1 4 1 0 0 652 1677 1324 242 -1 4 1 4 1 1 0 700 1677 1276 37 -1 5 1 4 1 1 1 700 1677 85 33 91.586349 PAR.5 1 4 1 1 2 808 1679 31 31 95.963287 7.5 1 4 1 1 3 863 1679 41 31 96.383293 In5 1 4 1 1 4 925 1677 61 33 96.285042 thes 1 4 1 1 5 1007 1688 124 23 96.699760 courses 1 4 1 1 6 1153 1678 70 33 96.497398 ands 1 4 1 1 7 1245 1679 152 31 96.299019 conducts 1 4 1 1 8 1418 1679 39 31 96.869316 of5 1 4 1 1 9 1478 1678 96 32 96.220680 theirs 1 4 1 1 10 1596 1677 182 33 96.457382 aforesaid5 1 4 1 1 11 1800 1677 176 37 96.131554 business,4 1 4 1 2 0 652 1728 1323 39 -1 5 1 4 1 2 1 652 1728 72 32 96.930527 ands 1 4 1 2 2 747 1729 40 31 95.145218 at5 1 4 1 2 3 809 1729 48 31 96.930710 all5 1 4 1 2 4 881 1728 106 33 96.475067 times5 1 4 1 2 5 1011 1729 204 32 95.907509 mentioned5 1 4 1 2 6 1240 1728 135 39 96.789658 herein,5 1 4 1 2 7 1402 1729 235 38 96.198074 respondents5 1 4 1 2 8 1662 1729 92 32 96.733826 have5 1 4 1 2 9 1778 1728 99 38 96.631088 been,5 1 4 1 2 10 1903 1728 72 31 96.767822 anda 1 4 1 3 0 652 1779 1324 39 -1 5 1 4 1 3 1 652 1788 81 23 96.672249 now5 1 4 1 3 2 754 1788 72 29 96.563400 are,5 1 4 1 3 3 849 1779 37 32 95.519585 in5 1 4 1 3 4 907 1779 218 33 95.519585 substantial5 1 4 1 3 5 1147 1779 241 39 95.789749 competition,5 1 4 1 3 6 1412 1780 37 32 96.606911 in5 1 4 1 3 7 1471 1789 205 28 96.255249 commerce,5 1 4 1 3 8 1700 1779 88 32 93.241928 with5 1 4 1 3 9 1812 1788 164 30 92.344345 corpora-4 1 4 1 4 0 652 1828 1324 39 -1 5 1 4 1 4 1 652 1828 105 39 96.385635 tions,5 1 4 1 4 2 784 1829 101 33 96.181847 firms5 1 4 1 4 3 911 1830 72 31 96.823486 ands 1 4 1 4 4 1009 1830 218 34 96.395470 individuals5 1 4 1 4 5 1255 1830 37 32 96.762688 in5 1 4 1 4 6 1319 1830 61 32 96.524330 thes 1 4 1 4 7 1408 1830 73 33 96.395432 sales 1 4 1 4 8 1507 1830 40 32 96.453331 of5 1 4 1 4 9 1575 1830 247 31 96.535164 merchandise5 1 4 1 4 10 1850 1829 38 31 96.535164 of5 1 4 1 4 11 1915 1829 61 32 96.061409 thea 1 4 1 5 0 652 1873 1138 46 -1 5 1 4 1 5 1 652 1889 97 22 96.040527 same5 1 4 1 5 2 763 1880 144 38 96.146065 general5 1 4 1 5 3 920 1880 87 32 96.928040 kinds 1 4 1 5 4 1020 1881 71 31 96.873993 ands 1 4 1 5 5 1105 1881 129 32 95.309769 nature5 1 4 1 5 6 1248 1890 40 22 96.878723 as5 1 4 1 5 7 1301 1881 81 31 96.255569 that5 1 4 1 5 8 1396 1881 75 32 96.773018 sold5 1 4 1 5 9 1484 1881 48 38 96.917671 by5 1 4 1 5 10 1545 1873 245 46 96.580383 respondents.2 1 5 0 0 0 648 1955 1349 387 -1 3 1 5 1 0 0 648 1955 1349 387 -1 4 1 5 1 1 0 697 1955 1277 40 -1 5 1 5 1 1 1 697 1955 86 32 61.341702 Par.5 1 5 1 1 2 811 1956 31 31 96.470604 8.5 1 5 1 1 3 870 1956 74 31 96.541672 Thes 1 5 1 1 4 970 1965 62 22 96.904396 uses 1 5 1 1 5 1058 1956 47 38 96.960724 by5 1 5 1 1 6 1132 1956 235 39 96.405075 respondents5 1 5 1 1 7 1395 1957 40 31 95.835312 of5 1 5 1 1 8 1461 1956 60 32 95.656525 thes 1 5 1 1 9 1549 1956 182 32 95.656525 aforesaid5 1 5 1 1 10 1760 1956 102 37 93.295395 false,5 1 5 1 1 11 1890 1955 84 32 92.321777 mis-4 1 5 1 2 0 650 2005 1324 41 -1 5 1 5 1 2 1 650 2005 144 39 96.329224 leading5 1 5 1 2 2 817 2006 70 32 96.175987 ands 1 5 1 2 3 913 2006 182 39 96.508904 deceptive5 1 5 1 2 4 1120 2007 223 38 96.481636 statements,5 1 5 1 2 5 1370 2007 306 39 96.076706 representations5 1 5 1 2 6 1702 2006 70 32 96.717796 ands 1 5 1 2 7 1798 2006 176 39 96.647148 practices4 1 5 1 3 0 649 2055 1324 41 -1 5 1 5 1 3 1 649 2055 67 33 95.850952 has5 1 5 1 3 2 743 2055 82 39 95.850952 had,5 1 5 1 3 3 855 2057 71 32 96.271446 ands 1 5 1 3 4 948 2058 88 31 96.391434 now5 1 5 1 3 5 1063 2057 76 38 96.183273 has,5 1 5 1 3 6 1169 2057 62 32 96.183273 thes 1 5 1 3 7 1260 2058 164 38 96.270439 capacity5 1 5 1 3 8 1454 2058 70 31 95.933914 ands 1 5 1 3 9 1554 2057 175 39 95.933914 tendency5 1 5 1 3 10 1757 2058 38 31 96.684128 to5 1 5 1 3 11 1825 2056 148 33 96.662933 mislead4 1 5 1 4 0 648 2107 1349 40 -1 5 1 5 1 4 1 648 2107 177 32 96.400452 members5 1 5 1 4 2 850 2107 40 32 96.651863 of5 1 5 1 4 3 913 2107 61 33 96.391930 thes 1 5 1 4 4 998 2108 221 39 96.433411 purchasing5 1 5 1 4 5 1243 2108 119 39 96.340332 public5 1 5 1 4 6 1388 2108 75 32 96.137192 into5 1 5 1 4 7 1487 2109 63 31 96.417015 thes 1 5 1 4 8 1574 2117 192 23 96.586952 erroneous5 1 5 1 4 9 1792 2107 70 33 93.244736 ands 1 5 1 4 10 1888 2107 84 32 0.000000 mis-4 1 5 1 5 0 648 2157 1324 41 -1 5 1 5 1 5 1 648 2157 110 34 94.688316 taken5 1 5 1 5 2 780 2158 110 33 94.688316 beliefs 1 5 1 5 3 911 2159 81 32 96.548042 that5 1 5 1 5 4 1015 2158 79 33 96.162125 said5 1 5 1 5 5 1118 2160 213 32 96.162125 statements5 1 5 1 5 6 1355 2160 72 32 96.194626 ands 1 5 1 5 7 1450 2158 306 40 96.194626 representations5 1 5 1 5 8 1780 2168 95 23 96.886948 were5 1 5 1 5 9 1900 2158 72 32 96.915321 anda 1 5 1 6 0 649 2209 1324 39 -1 5 1 5 1 6 1 649 2217 62 23 96.402328 ares 1 5 1 6 2 734 2209 82 31 96.706619 true5 1 5 1 6 3 841 2209 70 32 96.611870 ands 1 5 1 6 4 937 2209 76 33 95.760063 into5 1 5 1 6 5 1036 2209 62 33 95.760063 thes 1 5 1 6 6 1123 2210 177 38 96.433197 purchases 1 5 1 6 7 1324 2211 40 31 96.341507 of5 1 5 1 6 8 1390 2211 216 31 96.497787 substantial5 1 5 1 6 9 1633 2210 196 38 95.345795 quantities5 1 5 1 6 10 1855 2209 39 32 93.261269 of5 1 5 1 6 11 1919 2219 54 22 91.774147 re-4 1 5 1 7 0 648 2259 1325 40 -1 5 1 5 1 7 1 648 2259 206 38 92.627190 spondents’5 1 5 1 7 2 883 2259 249 34 96.505127 merchandise5 1 5 1 7 3 1159 2261 46 38 96.943108 by5 1 5 1 7 4 1234 2271 129 22 96.238388 reasons 1 5 1 7 5 1393 2261 40 32 96.791435 of5 1 5 1 7 6 1460 2261 78 32 96.482063 said5 1 5 1 7 7 1567 2270 192 23 96.496002 erroneous5 1 5 1 7 8 1789 2259 71 33 93.226440 ands 1 5 1 7 9 1889 2260 84 32 91.119431 mis-4 1 5 1 8 0 649 2309 241 33 -1 5 1 5 1 8 1 649 2309 112 32 76.802254 taken.5 1 5 1 8 2 772 2310 118 32 91.580643 belief.2 1 6 0 0 0 646 2386 1327 297 -1 3 1 6 1 0 0 646 2386 1327 297 -1 4 1 6 1 1 0 694 2386 1278 40 -1 5 1 6 1 1 1 694 2386 85 32 92.137962 Par.5 1 6 1 1 2 809 2388 31 31 95.510757 9.5 1 6 1 1 3 869 2387 74 32 96.918724 Thes 1 6 1 1 4 969 2387 184 33 96.482422 aforesaid5 1 6 1 1 5 1180 2389 77 30 95.908432 acts5 1 6 1 1 6 1285 2388 70 31 95.908432 ands 1 6 1 1 7 1384 2388 177 38 95.517357 practices5 1 6 1 1 8 1588 2388 40 31 96.691231 of5 1 6 1 1 9 1656 2387 245 39 96.340195 respondents,5 1 6 1 1 10 1932 2396 40 23 95.725922 as4 1 6 1 2 0 646 2435 1327 42 -1 5 1 6 1 2 1 646 2435 124 32 96.363457 herein5 1 6 1 2 2 794 2436 146 40 96.516533 alleged,5 1 6 1 2 3 964 2447 95 23 96.432869 were5 1 6 1 2 4 1082 2438 71 32 96.432869 ands 1 6 1 2 5 1177 2448 62 22 96.800529 ares 1 6 1 2 6 1262 2439 47 31 96.699577 all5 1 6 1 2 7 1333 2439 37 31 96.696609 to5 1 6 1 2 8 1394 2438 61 32 96.954803 thes 1 6 1 2 9 1479 2438 184 39 96.296127 prejudice5 1 6 1 2 10 1687 2437 70 33 96.917366 ands 1 6 1 2 11 1783 2437 125 39 96.631424 injury5 1 6 1 2 12 1933 2437 40 32 96.874863 of4 1 6 1 3 0 646 2486 1324 44 -1 5 1 6 1 3 1 646 2486 62 32 96.561386 thes 1 6 1 3 2 730 2488 118 38 96.089722 public5 1 6 1 3 3 871 2488 70 33 96.509506 ands 1 6 1 3 4 964 2488 40 33 96.931587 of5 1 6 1 3 5 1026 2489 248 41 96.363579 respondents’5 1 6 1 3 6 1297 2488 231 39 96.407631 competitors5 1 6 1 3 7 1552 2490 69 31 96.914886 ands 1 6 1 3 8 1645 2488 229 38 96.221046 constituted,5 1 6 1 3 9 1898 2488 72 32 97.006058 anda 1 6 1 4 0 649 2538 1324 40 -1 5 1 6 1 4 1 649 2547 80 23 96.596619 now5 1 6 1 4 2 749 2539 204 38 96.143883 constitute,5 1 6 1 4 3 977 2539 125 33 96.260201 unfair5 1 6 1 4 4 1123 2539 163 33 96.656464 methods5 1 6 1 4 5 1308 2540 41 32 96.862869 of5 1 6 1 4 6 1370 2540 231 38 96.104546 competitions 1 6 1 4 7 1624 2540 36 32 95.259155 in5 1 6 1 4 8 1685 2548 195 24 95.259155 commerce5 1 6 1 4 9 1903 2538 70 33 96.751114 anda 1 6 1 5 0 650 2593 1322 41 -1 5 1 6 1 5 1 650 2593 125 31 96.699554 unfair5 1 6 1 5 2 794 2593 71 33 96.849442 ands 1 6 1 5 3 884 2594 183 38 96.278809 deceptive5 1 6 1 5 4 1086 2596 77 30 95.636948 acts5 1 6 1 5 5 1183 2595 70 31 96.745506 ands 1 6 1 5 6 1273 2596 177 38 96.361359 practices5 1 6 1 5 7 1471 2596 36 30 95.927940 in5 1 6 1 5 8 1528 2605 195 22 96.129639 commerce5 1 6 1 5 9 1744 2595 36 31 96.948662 in5 1 6 1 5 10 1802 2593 170 33 96.286926 violation4 1 6 1 6 0 648 2647 994 36 -1 5 1 6 1 6 1 648 2647 41 32 96.632195 of5 1 6 1 6 2 701 2647 142 33 96.289177 Sections 1 6 1 6 3 858 2650 20 30 96.219933 55 1 6 1 6 4 891 2649 40 31 96.799271 of5 1 6 1 6 5 942 2649 62 33 96.638557 thes 1 6 1 6 6 1017 2650 151 32 96.638557 Federal5 1 6 1 6 7 1181 2650 117 33 95.612617 Trades 1 6 1 6 8 1313 2650 237 33 95.612617 Commissions 1 6 1 6 9 1565 2650 77 32 96.173683 Act. Decision and Order 75 F.T.C.

DECISION AND ORDER The Federal Trade Commission having initiated an investigation of certain acts and practices of the respondents named in the caption hereof, and the respondents having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft of complaint which the Bureau of Deceptive Practices proposed to present to the Commission for its consideration and which, if issued by the Commission, would charge respondents with violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act; and The respondents and counsel for the. Commission having. thereafter executed an agreement containing a consent order, an admission by the respondents of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the aforesaid draft of complaint, a statement that the signing of said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in such complaint, and waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission’s Rules; and The Commission having thereafter considered.the matter and having: determined. that it had reason to: believe that the respondents have violated the said Act, and that complaint should issue stating its charges in that respect, and having thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days, now in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in § 2.34 (b) of its Rules, the Commission hereby issues its complaint, makes the following jurisdictional findings, and enters the following order:

1. Respondent Blair’s Television & Music Company, Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland, with its principal office and place of business located at 5422 Western Avenue, in the city of Chevy Chase, State of Maryland. Respondent Blairs T.V.—Chevy Chase, Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland, with its principal office and place of business located at 5422 Western Avenue, in the city of Chevy Chase, State of Maryland.

Respondent C. Kemp Devereux is an individual and an officer of the corporate respondents and his address is the same as that of the corporate respondents.

2. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction of the sub- BLAIR’S TELEVISION & MUSIC co., INC., ET AL. 951 947 Decision and Order ject. matter: of this. proceeding and-of the respondents, and the proceeding is in the public interest.

ORDER It is ordered, That respondents Blair’s Television & Music ‘Company, Inc., a corporation, Blairs’ T.V.—Chevy Chase, Inc., a corporation, and their officers, and C. Kemp Devereux, individually and as an officer’ of said corporations, and respondents’ agents, representatives and employees, directly or through any corporate or other device, in connection with the advertising, offering for sale, sale or distribution of television sets or any other merchandise or services, in commerce, as “commerce” is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act, do forthwith | cease and desist from:

1. Representing, directly or by implication, that any merchandise or services are offered for sale when such offer is not a bona fide offer to sell such merchandise or services at the prices and on the terms.and conditions stated. 2. Using any. advertising, sales plan or. procedure wherein false, misleading or deceptive representations are. made. to attract prospective purchasers to respondents’ place of business or to induce the sale of merchandise or services. 8. Disparaging, in any manner, or discouraging the purchase of any merchandise advertised.

4, Advertising merchandise for sale which is not available in quantities sufficient to meet reasonably anticipated demand, unless such advertising clearly and conspicuously discloses the number of units in stock, the location of such units, and the duration of the offer.

5. Representing, directly or by implication, through the use of terms such as “Television Sale,” or in any other manner, that any price is reduced from respondents’ former price unless respondents’ business records establish and show that such price constitutes a significant reduction from the price at which such merchandise has been sold in substantial quantities or offered for sale in good faith for a reasonably substantial period of time, by respondents in the recent, regular course of their business.

- 6. Falsely representing, in any manner, that savings are available to purchasers or prospective purchasers of respondents’ merchandise, or misrepresenting, in any man- 952 FEDERAL. TRADE ‘COMMISSION : DECISIONS : Complaint 75 F.C.

ner, the amount of savings available to: purchasers ‘or prospective purchasers of respondents’ merchandise. 7. Representing, directly or by implication, that respondents’ merchandise is being’offered for sale at a stated price for a limited period of time when. such merchandise is being offered at the same or substantially the same price fora period of time. different from that. represented... :, 8. Representing, . directly or by implication, that, any offer of respondents, is limited or. restricted in any manner unless - such offer. is in fact Jimited or restricted, in the manner represented and, unless such. limitation or restriction . is in good, faith adhered to. by respondents. , 9. Failing to. deliver, a copy. of this. order. ‘to cease ‘and desist to all ‘present and future salesmen or other persons engaged in the sale of respondents’ merchandise or serv- . ices, and failing to secure from each such salesman or other person a signed statement acknowledging receipt of said ~ order.

It is further ‘ordered, That the respondent corporations shall forthwith distribute a copy of this: order to! “each of their operating divisions.

Itis further ordered, That the respondents herein shall, “within sixty (60) days after service upon them of this order, file with the Commission a report in writing setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied with this order.