Politics & Government

Slater-Price to Shoppers: Check Those Receipts

County authorities this week revealed some troubling data about price-scanning errors.

As skyrocketing fuel prices strain household budgets, county supervisor Pam Slater-Price is urging consumers to double-check their shopping receipts.

“Faulty bar-code scanners are more common than you might think, and all too often, shoppers pay the price for overcharges,” Slater-Price said in a written statement.

The supervisor issued her warning as county authorities this week revealed troubling data about price-scanning errors. 

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The announcement also coincides with National Weights and Measures Week, which commemorates the signing of the first weights and measures law by U.S. President John Adams in 1799.

According to a statement from Robert Atkins, director of the county Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM), one quarter of more than 1,100 San Diego area businesses inspected during the last seven months had pricing errors.

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“We also found that customers were more than twice as likely to be overcharged as undercharged, and that there was $3.38 in overcharges for every $1 in undercharges,” he said.

Atkins advises consumers to always verify receipts and immediately notify store management of any price discrepancies, to bring sales advertisements to the checkout line for reference and to remember that a store cannot charge more than the lowest advertised or quoted price.

“The vigilance of our Weights and Measures inspectors is under-appreciated,” Slater-Price said. “Every day, they work hard so consumers don’t get cheated.”

To report price-scanning errors, call (888) 878-3722 or visit www.sdcawm.org.


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