South Dakota AG Settles with Menards for Deceptive Rebate Advertising

AG: South Dakota Press Releases

Filed December 18th, 2025

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced a multistate settlement with Menards, securing $102,888.64 to resolve deceptive advertising claims regarding its 11% rebate program. Menards will change its advertising practices to accurately represent discounts and disclose program limitations.

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What changed

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, as part of a coalition of 10 Attorneys General, has secured a settlement with Menards for deceptive marketing practices related to its "11% Rebate Program." The company falsely advertised a point-of-purchase discount when it only offered in-store merchandise credit, with disclaimers in small print. The settlement requires Menards to cease advertising store credit as a point-of-purchase discount, clearly disclose all material limitations and terms, and investigate online submission and redemption processes for rebates.

This settlement requires Menards to implement significant changes to its advertising and sales practices to ensure transparency with consumers. Regulated entities, particularly retailers engaging in rebate or discount programs, should review their own advertising and disclosure practices to ensure compliance with similar consumer protection laws. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned for Menards' internal changes, the settlement aims to protect consumers from misleading promotional offers.

What to do next

Review advertising and marketing materials for rebate and discount programs to ensure accurate representation of discounts and clear disclosure of limitations.
Ensure all terms and conditions of rebate programs are conspicuously disclosed and readily available to consumers.
Investigate and update internal processes for managing rebate programs to align with settlement terms.

Penalties

$102,888.64 for South Dakota

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Marty Jackley

A TTORNEY OFFICE OF THE
SOUTH DAKOTA G ENERAL

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Attorney General Jackley Secures Settlement with Menards On Deceptive Rebate Advertising
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025

Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces South Dakota will receive **** $102,888.64 as part of a multistate settlement with Menards to resolve claims that the company deceptively marketed its merchandise credit check program (commonly known as the “Menards 11% Rebate Program.”)

“Despite its advertising, Menards did not put cash in the hands of their customers or provide the discount at the time of check out,” said Attorney General Jackley. “I appreciate Menards’ willingness to correct its advertisements and to make good with South Dakota consumers.”

Attorney General Jackley was part of a coalition of 10 Attorneys General that investigated Menards’ sales practices. Allegations included:

The company’s prolific use of “11% OFF” or “11% OFF EVERYTHING” advertising falsely claimed a point-of purchase discount, when Menards actually only offered an in-store merchandise credit for future purchases;
Menards’ advertised prices reflected an 11% discount, which wrongly implied that customers could realize a savings at the time of purchase;
Menards failed to appropriately disclose the material limitations of the rebate program because the disclaimers were in small print and removed from the discount representation; and,
Menards told customers that “Rebates International” is a separate entity responsible for its 11% off program, when it is actually the same company.
Under the terms of the settlement, Menards will make changes to its advertising and sales practices, including:
A prohibition from advertising or representing that any program that offers store credit for making purchases at Menards provides consumers with a point-of-purchase discount;
Clearly and conspicuously disclosing material limitations of the rebate program and disclosing all applicable terms and conditions of the rebate program in a readily available manner;
Investigating whether and to what extent it can offer a process by which consumers can safely and securely submit rebate application forms and receipts online;
Investigating whether and to what extent it can offer a process by which consumers can safely and securely redeem their rebate for online purchases;
Clearly and conspicuously disclosing that Menards is doing business as Rebates International;
Allowing consumers at least one year from the date of purchase to submit a rebate claim;
Updating their online rebate tracker with information about the rebate claim within 48 hours of the application being input into Menards’ system;
Updating their online rebate tracker with additional information about the rebate, including updates about returns affecting the rebate.
South Dakota’s share of the settlement will go to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division to be used for consumer education and future investigations.