Scanner/price accuracy

The first inspections for 2001 of 122 store out of 200 plus resulted in 57% of them failing exceeding the 2% error rate that is the action point. The highest error rate was 22.9% at one store. The largest error was an $100 over charge on an appliance. Although the number of errors tend to be against the store, the size of the errors tend to be against the consumer. This is because sale items either aren't entered in the store computer or on Percent Off items the full percentage is not given. For instance at one store, on two different occasions, women's garments were advertised at 35% off but at the check out only 24% was given, on some of the more expensive items it was as much as a $15 over charge.

To avoid this always separate sale items from other purchases and watch as they are being scanned. Carry a calculator with you so you will know what you should pay for an item that is advertised with percent off.

Scanners

Scanner price accuracy: This Department is responsible for insuring the price advertised or posted is the price that you pay at the checkout. This is done through a testing Procedure. An inspector will pick 50 to 200 items at random using a bar code/price data collecting device. The prices are then compared to the prices charged at the check out. All errors plus or minus are noted. Legally are to be no errors but there is a 2% error action point. Another words the store has to have a 98% accuracy rate to pass an inspection. In a store with 40,000 items they could have 800 errors. So even if a stores passes you must be careful.

Inspector collecting bar codes and prices to use at the check out for a scan/price test. This position is not filled at the present due to a lack of funding.
Inspections are done only on a complaint bases at the present.

Scan test at a fabric store.