KEY POINTS
- Inspections revealed instances of inaccurate pricing and the absence of price displays for specific products.
- Should you be overcharged for an item, experts recommend addressing it immediately with store management.
Do you always check your receipts after making a purchase? If not, you might be getting overcharged without even realising it.
Last week, Home Depot, the popular hardware retailer, was ordered to pay nearly $2 million in a settlement following claims of false advertising and overcharging customers. The settlement stems from a civil enforcement case that several California district attorneys brought, accusing the company of unfair competition and deceptive pricing practices.
Overcharging at the Checkout
The complaint, filed in San Diego Superior Court, alleged that Home Depot customers were frequently charged more at the register than the prices displayed on shelf tags or the items themselves. These discrepancies, referred to as "scanner violations," saw shoppers paying higher prices than expected.
While Home Depot admitted no wrongdoing, it was ordered to pay $1.7 million in civil penalties and an additional $277,251 to cover investigation costs and fund future consumer protection efforts. In addition to the financial penalties, the company must implement a price accuracy programme to prevent further pricing errors.
"False advertising and unfair competition are serious offences that undermine consumer trust and distort the marketplace," said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, emphasising the need for retailers to maintain accurate pricing.
How Common Is Overcharging?
Overcharging at the checkout is more common than many shoppers realise. According to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), 60% of pricing errors result in overcharging customers. The CMA investigated the pricing practices of 139 grocery stores across England and Wales, including major supermarket chains and small independent retailers.
The findings revealed that 4.2% of supermarkets, 14.4% of symbol convenience stores, 5.6% of variety stores, and 7.8% of independent food stores experienced pricing inaccuracies. These errors were particularly prevalent in fresh produce and promotional items, where discrepancies between advertised and actual prices at the register were often found.
CMA interim executive director George Lusty commented, "We know how frustrating it can be when you get to the till only to find the price doesn't match what was advertised. While many grocery retailers comply with pricing rules, this must be the case consistently across all types of stores."
He added, "It's important that shoppers make well-informed choices based on accurate information, especially when many want to save money."
Home Depot's Settlement: Not the First of Its Kind
The Home Depot settlement isn't an isolated case in the world of retail. Other major chains have faced similar accusations of overcharging. In October 2022, Walmart was hit with a lawsuit alleging that the company "falsely inflated" the weight of specific items sold by weight, causing customers to pay more than they should. Although Walmart denied the claims, the case ended in a multi-million dollar settlement.
These incidents highlight a widespread issue in the retail industry, where errors in pricing and product weights can result in consumers paying more than they intended.
How to Avoid Being Overcharged
Experts recommend a few simple precautions to protect yourself from overcharging. First and foremost, always double-check that the price on an item's shelf label or sign matches what you are charged at the register. If there is a discrepancy, alert a manager or sales assistant immediately.
Most stores have scales in the relevant departments for items sold by weight, such as produce. Use them to weigh your items before heading to the checkout. When using a self-checkout, ensure the register's scale is zero before your item is weighed. If you notice any inaccuracies, raise the issue with store staff immediately.
If the store's scale edges are rubbing against the machine, it could lead to an inaccurate reading, so it's a good idea to check the edges of the scale before weighing your items. In many cases, even if a sale has expired, the retailer must legally honour the price if a sale sign is still displayed.
Different regions have varying policies regarding overcharges. For example, in Wisconsin, overcharged customers are entitled to a refund for the difference between the posted price and what was charged. Some retailers may even offer the overcharged item for free as compensation.
What's Next for Home Depot?
The settlement represents a significant step towards protecting consumers from unfair practices, but the long-term impact remains to be seen. Home Depot's price accuracy programme will be closely monitored, and the company will likely face ongoing scrutiny to ensure compliance.
For now, the message to shoppers is clear: always check your receipts because you never know when you might be overcharged.
