Personal Injury Law

San Diego Consumers Ripped Off by Baskin Robbins; $491K in Fines Paid

By Ross Jurewitz

Last week, the San Diego District Attorney and California Attorney General settled a consumer protection lawsuit against Baskin Robbins from the company's selling of hand-packed, pint sized containers of ice cream.

Baskin Robbins agreed to pay over $491,000 in fines and costs.

Inspections of 188 locations in 29 different counties found that 83% of all hand packed pint sized ice cream packages were underweight by approximately 4 ounces, or 25%.

I'm not sure what Baskin Robbins pint sized sales are in California, but the company was definitely reaping a significant profit by underselling ice cream to its customers. If a pint of ice cream sells for $3 per pint, Baskin Robbins was collecting $3 for a "pint" that was only worth $2.25.

If you assume that Baskin Robbins sells 10,000 pints per week in California (I don't know whether this is accurate, but sounds reasonable for a state of 38 million people and a market leading company with approximately 200 locations statewide), Baskin Robbins was reaping an undue profit of $7,500 per week or $30,000 a month.

$30,000 a month. That's a huge effect from a missing 4 ounces.

Full post as published by San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog on May 22, 2007 (boomark / email).