The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from 70 stores in 38 counties because of excessive price-scanner errors. Dollar General, Walmart, Tractor Supply and Family Dollar are among the stores sited for violations. Civil penalties recorded in this report: did not include any in Mitchell, Yancey or Madison counties but did list two in Buncombe County including
- The Fresh Market at 944 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville paid $2,635 in fines. An inspection in August found an error rate of 3 percent based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store also failed and paid fines for three other inspections in 2022. The store passed inspection in October.
- Walmart Supercenter at 1663 Hendersonville Road, Asheville paid $5,000 in fines. An inspection in June found an error rate of 5.33 percent based on eight overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store also failed and paid a fine for an inspection in March. The store passed inspection in August.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 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. According to Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, “Over the last year we have seen about 26 percent of price scanner inspections fail. It is always a good practice for consumers to check their receipts as well as the price on the shelf to make sure that they are paying the correct amount and alert managers if they are not correct.”
