Are stores legally allowed to deny purchase of items because you have already made a purchase?

Question

When shopping at a local store I was not allowed to purchase a gaming system because I have already purchased one weeks back and was in their system. Is there any consumer protection laws that protect against this. I mean if the item is in stock on the shelf, no line, can any store refuse a sale?

Please no assumptions or guesses.

Thanks

Answer 1

As far as state/federal laws go, no, there aren't any laws on the books about this. BUT... stores can make their own policies (ever see an ad for a sale that says '1 per customer',etc?) and sure, you could try to take them to court, you might win, but jeez, just go to another store. Yes, they CAN limit quantity per customer. With gaming systems, you'd have to ask THEM what their reason for keeping track of you is. No one can tell you but them. Now, if it's anything to do with age, sex, race, etc., then no, they can't keep you from buying anything, that's illegal.

Answer 2

Not only are they allowed to do so, you can be prosecuted for fraud if you try to subvert the policy by faking names.
In United States v. Austin, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 13417 , the court upheld the conviction for mail fraud and faking a name of a person who mailed 128 applications under different names to a direct marking group for promotional memberships which was limited to one per customer.

Answer 3

Yes they are.

A store can set their own rules, so long as those rules do not break the law. "Limit one per customer" is perfectly legal. "We don't sell to Blacks" isn't.

Richard