During a recent inspection, state officials found the Whiteville Walmart regularly overcharged customers .
The store was one of eight statewide that the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division (DACSSD) collected fines because of excessive price-scanner errors.
The Walmart at 200 Columbus Corners paid $1,530 in penalties. An initial inspection in July found an error rate of seven percent, based on seven overcharges in a 100-item lot. A follow-up inspection in August found an error rate of 2.67 percent, based on eight overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.
The DACSSD conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of price-scanner systems in businesses to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register.
If a store has more than a two percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection later. Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store.
Penalties are assessed if a store fails a follow-up inspection. In addition to the penalties paid, the store will be subject to reinspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the two percent-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails reinspection.
Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors they encounter, can call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.
“Our Standards Division does excellent work inspecting stores across the state for scanner errors that hurt consumers’ pockets,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “North Carolinians should only have to pay the price they see on the shelf and this work is vital to make sure that happens. Our Standards Division will continue to inspect stores, but consumers should also check their receipts often and notify store managers if they see an issue.”
A Carolina Beach Dollar General store was also fined $3,480 for overcharges.
