The Dollar General in the Plain View community is one of seven stores fined for price-scanning errors.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from stores in Alamance, Mecklenburg, Moore, Onslow and Richmond counties and the Dollar General in Plain View because of excessive price-scanner errors.
“We want consumers to be confident the price on the shelf matches the price that’s scanned at the register,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Stores have a responsibility to make sure their pricing is accurate and most stores pass inspection. Ones that don’t are fined until they come into compliance. Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors can call the Standards Division at 919-707-3225.”
The Dollar General at 6934 Plain View Highway, Dunn paid $345 in penalties. An initial inspection in August 2017 found an error rate of 6 percent, based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot, according to a press release from the state agriculture department. A second inspection in September 2017 found an error rate of 2.33 percent, based on seven overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in November.
The Standards Division conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of a business’ price-scanner system to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register. If a store has more than a 2-percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow up inspection at a later date. 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 re-inspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the 2 percent-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if the store fails a re-inspection.
