Consumer Services

Spotting Price Scanning Mistakes: Tricks of the Trade

With the holiday shopping season just about to kick-start, chances are you will be making many trips to the store register. Nearly every product is labeled with a Universal Product Code (UPC), which cashiers record with an electronic scanner that sends the price to the register. Scanning technology has its advantages. It facilitates speedier checkout time for consumers, improves sales and inventory records and results in fewer pricing errors than using manual entry.

However, pricing mistakes do occur, typically due to problems with computer systems or human errors. The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department is advising consumers to pay close attention to the price screen at the register to avoid accidental overcharges. They can be frustrating for time-conscious consumers, who may have to stand in line for a refund, or worse, return to the store.

Savvy consumers, who note prices as they shop and monitor the price screen at checkout, will be able to quickly catch errors as soon as they happen and avoid the hassle of trying to obtain a refund. At stores where errors happen frequently, alert shoppers will go elsewhere if price corrections aren't made, and this will encourage retail stores to police the accuracy of their checkout scanners.

This issue of ConsumerWise is dedicated to saving you time and money at the register. It is brought to you by the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department.

Common Rip-offs

• The sale price does not register. Winding your way through a store, you may see an item on sale that you wish to purchase. Perhaps you weren't even planning on buying the item but were encouraged to do so by the discount offered. However, when you take your purchase to the register, the price is much higher than advertised. It's not an unusual occurrence. On a grander scale, such a mistake can cost consumers thousands of dollars if they don't pay attention as the cashier rings up the order.

Consumer Smarts

• If you think you're being overcharged, speak up. Ask about the store's policy on pricing errors, and ask the cashier to make the adjustment before you pay.

• Bring a copy of the store's flyer or newspaper ad to the checkout counter. Some advertised specials -- 15% off an item for two hours, for example, or a two-for-one promotion -- may not be in the computer and must be entered manually by the cashier.

• Consider jotting down prices or special sales as you make your way through the store.

• Check your receipt before you walk away. If you notice an error, ask the cashier to adjust the total. If you've already left the cashier's lane, see the store or department manager or the customer service department to correct any mistakes.

• If you notice a pattern of electronic scanning errors in a particular store, talk to the customer service department or the store manager. You also may want to write a letter to the company's headquarters. The retailer may not realize a problem exists until it's pointed out.

For additional consumer tips, or to check the complaint history of a company, file a complaint or ask consumer-related questions, visit the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department website at www.miamidade.gov/csd, call 305-375-3677 or email consumer@miamidade.gov.

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