Many stores use electronic scanners to compute sales at the check-out counter.  These scanners are linked to a computer where product prices are stored.  Some scanners are hand-held and the clerk runs the scanner over the price tag. Other scanners are on a counter and the items are passed over an electronic reading device. The scanner reads a code on the product and the computer displays the price.

Consumers are to be charged the price that is advertised, posted, or displayed for an item offered for sale.  Weights and measures employees inspect scanners to verify that prices charged for scanned items reflect the advertised, posted, or displayed price for those items.  When a scanned item produces a price that is either over or under the advertised, posted, or displayed price, it is considered an error. 

In a typical inspection, 100 items are scanned.  If three scanned items produce prices that are either over or under the advertised, posted, or displayed price, the retailer fails the inspection and a follow-up inspection is scheduled.  Continued failed inspections can lead to enforcement actions that could require the retailer to pay a monetary penalty. 

There are many reasons a scanned product may produce an incorrect price.  They range from data entry error to data download failure to out-of-date prices being posted in the store. 

What you can do:

• Watch prices as they are displayed at check-out to verify they reflect the advertised, posted, or displayed price.
• Ask the clerk to check the price if you think the scanned price is incorrect.
• If the scanned price does not agree with the posted price, ask the store manager to correct it. 
• Save the cash register receipt in case you have questions or a problem later on.