Item Scanned Wrong Price at Store-Get It Free?

RedAngie · Feb 6, 2016

At the supermarket this afternoon there was a great price on Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Regular Price $10.99, a sale tag said $5.99. After checking out for some reason I decided to look at my receipt and saw that it scanned at full price. I went back to check the shelf price and sure enough the tag said $5.99 for that item.

I went to customer service and they refunded me the $10.99 AND gave me the bottle of oil for free. I was just expecting a five dollar price adjustment. Or, if they couldn't do that, just the refund. Not both.

Usually I don't bother checking the receipts. On the rare occasions that I do, it's not until I get home. I guess I did it in the store today because I only intended to buy a few items and somehow ended up spending $80.

I'm not sure I would have bothered going back to the store if I didn't discover the error until I got home. Usually the rare errors I find are very minor.

Lilacs4Me · Feb 6, 2016

I thought there was a law about that?

Even so, I have never challenged it. Usually I just get the $$ difference refunded back to me. I wouldn't mind getting the free product, too!

lynxstch · Feb 6, 2016

we have one local store that does that also. If it scans higher or lower than the shelf price, you get one of that item free. They used to mess up a lot more than they do now-guess they were tired of giving away free items!

lizabu · Feb 6, 2016

Yes. That's the scanning code of practice. Most people don't know that stores are supposed to do this. I'm not sure if it's everywhere or just here in Canada

Squirlz · Feb 6, 2016

Here is the law in Michigan:

"You are entitled to receive the difference between the displayed price and what you were charged, plus additional compensation ("bonus") of ten times the difference. The bonus must be at least $1.00, but may not be more than $5.00. If the seller does not pay the difference and the bonus, you may sue for actual damages or $250.00, whichever is greater, plus attorneys' fees of up to $300.00."

I once went back to a store after an overcharge. The young lady at the CS desk gave me back the difference, and I asked "What about the bonus?" She huffed and rolled her eyes and said "There's all kinds of paperwork..." I said "I got all day." Turns out SHE was the one who had to fill out the paperwork.

Kathryn Merteuil · Feb 6, 2016

I think it varies by location. When I was at Walmart it was like a certain amount off, or if it was under a certain amount the customer received the item free.

I remember this as a cashier, some guy rolled up with a whole bunch of pizzas and a really smug look on his face. He knew they were going to be wrong. The CSM said, yea we gotta give them to him.

TML2012 · Feb 6, 2016

lizabu said:
Yes. That's the scanning code of practice. Most people don't know that stores are supposed to do this. I'm not sure if it's everywhere or just here in Canada

I love this requirement! I receive free items on a fairly regular basis because of the scanning code of practice. I think you are right though... I don't think many people in know about it or bother to check their receipts.

Callie · Feb 7, 2016

I have a question...what is the item rings up wrong but the cashier fixes it right after without the customer saying thing? Such as a known technical issue. I feel in that case the store shouldn't have to be out anything. They are taking the charge to fix it with no harm to the customer.

Dentam · Feb 7, 2016

I usually discover these things once I'm home but am trying to be better about checking my receipt before I leave the store. I've never gotten an item for free - they've always just given me the amount back that I was over charged.

bsblady01 · Feb 7, 2016

Callie said:
I have a question...what is the item rings up wrong but the cashier fixes it right after without the customer saying thing? Such as a known technical issue. I feel in that case the store shouldn't have to be out anything. They are taking the charge to fix it with no harm to the customer.

if it is fixed before you check out then you do not get your money back

Mirielle · Feb 7, 2016

Oh gosh - I get stuff free ALL the time. Been told it's because men find me unusually pretty and can't help themselves. Oh well, you learn to deal. :cutie:

Alberta bound · Feb 7, 2016

Good for you for checking and for the store making it more than right. ( some places like to do as little as possible) It's alos a good reminder to me to always check my receipts and to pay attention at the register!

maxiesmom · Feb 7, 2016

Squirlz said:
Here is the law in Michigan:

"You are entitled to receive the difference between the displayed price and what you were charged, plus additional compensation ("bonus") of ten times the difference. The bonus must be at least $1.00, but may not be more than $5.00. If the seller does not pay the difference and the bonus, you may sue for actual damages or $250.00, whichever is greater, plus attorneys' fees of up to $300.00."

I once went back to a store after an overcharge. The young lady at the CS desk gave me back the difference, and I asked "What about the bonus?" She huffed and rolled her eyes and said "There's all kinds of paperwork..." I said "I got all day." Turns out SHE was the one who had to fill out the paperwork.

Note that the displayed price they refer to is the ticketed price, and not any sale sign. Many store will give you the bounty fee anyway, but technically they don't have to. But it is easier to do that then try to explain the details of the crazy law to them.

anniemae · Feb 7, 2016

Callie said:
I have a question...what is the item rings up wrong but the cashier fixes it right after without the customer saying thing? Such as a known technical issue. I feel in that case the store shouldn't have to be out anything. They are taking the charge to fix it with no harm to the customer.

Well if you did not pay for it yet, there would be nothing to refund. If the error is corrected before the customer pays, there is no issue.

DisneyNutMary · Feb 7, 2016

That law doesn't exist here in the NY/NJ area. Here if an item scans differently from what is on the tag, you pay the advertised price. No bonus, no free item, etc.
Also, it has to be the right tag and right item. Many times people will pick up an item and read the tag for the item next to it and assume that is the price, in that case as long as the item scans for the price on the tag that matches it, no adjustments are made.

I'm surprised some places still use the scans right or it's free rule. It must be regional, because here people were stealing old sale tags and taking them out at the register on future shopping trips to get an item free or at a reduced price.

mommysaurus · Feb 7, 2016

Callie said:
I have a question...what is the item rings up wrong but the cashier fixes it right after without the customer saying thing? Such as a known technical issue. I feel in that case the store shouldn't have to be out anything. They are taking the charge to fix it with no harm to the customer.

At least at the store I regularly shop in, it's still free. That's how I found out about this policy. Several years ago I don't remember what I was buying but it was a great price. I wasn't really paying attention at the check out but happened to look up at the monitor when the cashier was scanning that item and it scanned regular price. I said "oh that was marked on sale for $5. Would you mind to check that?" Thinking they were going to red to verify what the shelf said and he said no need because it was store policy to just give it to you for free if there was a question. I remember thinking how ripe for abuse that system was. But I've tried to pay better attention at the checkout since then!

Goofy_Disney_Dad · Feb 7, 2016

Mirielle said:
Oh gosh - I get stuff free ALL the time. Been told it's because men find me unusually pretty and can't help themselves. Oh well, you learn to deal.

But, aren't you the one setting the prices in those situations?

cijay · Feb 7, 2016

http://canadianbudgetbinder.com/2012/09/26/scanning-code-of-practice-scop-in-canada/

Sometimes people get excited because of store policies. There are some stores that give them all for the reduced price. I know there's a sign in the store I shop that you get the one item for the reduced, you have the option of taking the other(s) at full price. I also see that it doesn't count for items where they just put a sticker on it.

While it is partially legislated, a lot of it's kind of like 'the customer is always right' - it's specific to the store.

Ephany · Feb 7, 2016

I think Publix's policy is to give you the first item free (if it scans wrong) and then adjust the others to the correct price. I'm not as good at checking my receipt as I should be though.

Topper · Feb 7, 2016

Item Scanned Wrong Price at Store-Get It Free?

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