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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-217 — Advertising merchandise, etc., for sale with intent not to sell at price or terms advertised; prima facie evidence of violation

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 8: Misrepresentations and Other Offenses Connected with Sales, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-217

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-217Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
(a) Any person, firm, corporation or association who in any manner advertises or offers for sale to the public any merchandise, goods, commodity, service or thing with intent not to sell, or with intent not to sell at the price or upon the terms advertised or offered, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (b) In any prosecution or civil action under this section, the refusal by any person, firm, corporation or association or any employee, agent or servant thereof to sell, or the refusal to sell at the price or upon the terms advertised or offered, any merchandise, goods, commodity, service or thing advertised or offered for sale to the public, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section; provided, that this subsection shall not apply when it is clearly stated in the advertisement or offer by which such merchandise, goods, commodity, service or thing is advertised or offered for sale to the public, that the advertiser or offeror has a limited quantity or amount of such merchandise, goods, commodity, service or thing for sale, and the advertiser or offeror at the time of such advertisement or offer did in fact have at least such quantity or amount for sale.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is advertising merchandise, etc., for sale with intent not to sell at price or terms advertised a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Advertising merchandise, etc., for sale with intent not to sell at price or terms advertised is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-217.

Which Virginia statute covers advertising merchandise, etc., for sale with intent not to sell at price or terms advertised?

Advertising merchandise, etc., for sale with intent not to sell at price or terms advertised is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-217 (Advertising merchandise, etc., for sale with intent not to sell at price or terms advertised; prima facie evidence of violation).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.