Posted on 03/03/2009 12:00:57 PM PST by Graybeard58
In the current environment of massive fraud and monetary mayhem, I recently encountered a small financial error. But I refused to swallow a 25-percent loss at the checkout counter, where I was charged an extra $1 for a pint of organic grape-sized tomatoes.
As a weekly special, the advertised price was $3.99 per container. But when I studied my receipt at the checkout lane, I noticed that I had been charged $4.99 for the tomatoes.
Here's what that episode taught me:
Always check receipts. Checkout errors are common, according to one industry survey. In 2003, A.T. Kearney indicated that there are "data errors" on 30 percent of retail items. My shopping bags verify those findings, and after a spate of checkout errors at several stores, I've learned to quickly review receipts before leaving a store's parking lot. Many errors are computer-driven, explained one store employee. Occasionally, sale prices and special markdowns for various items are publicized but not updated in the store's computer system. For example, the scanning code on my tomatoes did not reflect the hand-written sale price spiked to the produce display.
Check the error policy. Some stores will compensate shoppers for mispriced items.
Examine large purchases. "You have to really scrutinize receipts, especially for big-ticket items," said Jane Bennett Clark, senior associate editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance. During a recent interview, Clark identified three tiers of pricing errors. 1) Customer errors occur when shoppers select an item that is not covered by a sales promotion. 2) Due to employee error or computer glitches, merchandise is mislabeled. 3) Bait-and-switch gimmicks occur when shoppers are lured into a store with the promise of low-priced specials, but are directed toward comparable merchandise at higher prices. The third scenario is against the law and shoppers should contact local regulators if a bait-and-switch scenario is suspected, Clark said.
I’ve known this for decades. I always watch them ring up every single item. I’ve even caught them double scanning stuff and missing stuff.
Industry standard here is that if an incorrect price is scanned, the customer gets the item for free or a $10 discount, whichever is less.
I work retail. 90% of the problem exists with customers who want something for nothing. 8% are common errors with ad signing, etc. 2% are glitches. It’s not too common, at least where I work.
I wouldn’t mind them missing the scanner once in a while... but I would probably tell them... I am just too honest for my own good
I work in retail technology, selling POS (point of sale) systems for over 20 years. Mistakes happen, but it’s not because of the systems. Most people don’t realize that many retailers might have 3000 - 5000 price changes per week. That does not even take into consideration specials like buy 1 get 1 free. The point is, the systems do a very good job of providing the right price. But sometimes there are human errors in keying in the right price at head office, etc. that then gets transmitted to the store. Just like anything else - garbage in garbage out.
I bought my grand son a t shirt with a pro wrestler on it, which he dearly loves. We got it at W-M, along with some other things. When we got home I noticed that it hadn't been scanned.
I told him that we had to go back and pay for it. He asked me if it would be alright to wear it back to the store, I told him ok but leave the price tag on it. They scanned the tag while the shirt was on him. He was proud of that shirt, tag and all.
It doesn’t happen to me often, but when it does, I notice it always happens in favor of the store. And many times, they don’t put all my purchases in the bag.
My real pet peeve is when they bag non-edible items such as soap in with my food items or frozen items in with canned goods even though I clearly separate the items out by type when I put them on the conveyor belt. And don't even get me started with them putting the bags in my truck...anymore I tell them no thanks, I have a certain way I want it done.
I bought a blouse one time that still had the plastic anti-theft device on it, the blouse was wrapped in a white plastic bag on a hanger, so I didn’t see it until I got ready to wear it. Good thing I had kept the receipt, as it was expensive. It didn’t set off any alarms when I left the store, but I sure surprised them when I went back in there, LOL!
Stores really don’t get to have an “error policy” if they’re charging more than the posted price and you catch it and they don’t give you the money back that’s bait and switch, which is fraud.
I saved $15 on a microwave last week because of this, I picked the model I wanted at one Target and it was $69.99 but they were out, there’s another Target a couple miles down the road so I went there and noticed the tag was $54.99, at the register they charged the “correct” ($69) price but I pointed out the posted price was different, another checker mentioned that yes somebody had screwed up the sign but they had to honor it.
I do self check-out and at the regular grocery store I either bag my own or tell them how I want it done.
No, what I have faced is a customer will come to the checkout, and start claiming that one item “had a sign that says...” and other excuses. I make it a habit of going and checking each individual item. The majority of the time, they have seen a sign for an entirely different item, and are trying to claim that price for the item they want. You would be surprised at the huge amount of people that want something for nothing (or at least 75% off...).
Ok, I see it does mention some customer mistakes as well, such as thinking an item is on sale when it’s not.
At Walmart in the discontinued stuff, I picked out all the itty bitty colognes thinking they would make for great stocking stuffers. When I got to the check out they charged me full price and when I told them they were marked down they didn’t believe me. I walked with the employee to the clearance section and she promptly pulled down machine generated (as in not hand printed) price tags and told me they wouldn’t give it to me at that price and offered no discount. I thought Walmart’s policy was to give the customer the posted price but whatever. I suspect she was saving them for a “special” customer.
I personally loathe self checkouts and get annoyed when they point me to one strictly to ease their burden. If I am going to pay the same price, I want customer service.
You should have informed her that was illegal. The posted price is what they need to sell for, if she was playing games to get a friend a discount (which actually doesn’t make a lot of sense, she’d have to override the price for her friend one way or the other, if she’s going to override then just do it) then that was the risk she took.
I have worked retail as well. Produce is a major problem, compared with upc coded items. The Walmart I worked at as a cashiers I say 50% of the price disputes or wrong problems was items of the produce department.
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