Shoppers Sue Ralphs Over Hotel Promotion

Ralphs Grocery Co. faces a handful of lawsuits after suspending its Great Escape promotion.

The Kroger Co. division offered a two-night hotel voucher for shoppers who spent more than $400, but many consumers claim they were unable to redeem the vouchers.

At least four suits were filed in Los Angeles last week, Reuters reports. One claims that more than 300,000 Ralphs customers got "Reservation Redemption Certificates" asking them to choose three travel dates. More than 50,000 got a letter saying Ralphs was "unable to fulfill any of your hotel stay choices," Reuters quoted the suit.

Ralphs canceled the promo when it was overwhelmed by the number of participants, according to news reports. The Los Angeles-based chain reportedly offered shoppers $50 and $100 discounts at Marriott or Renaissance hotels on the condition that shoppers wouldn't sue Ralphs. Kroger couldn't be reached for comment.

All the suits charge Ralphs and Kroger with fraud and unfair competition (under state laws). They ask for compensatory and punitive damages. Some suits also name Travel Services, the travel agency that handled hotel reservations for the promotion, per Reuters.