News

Inspectors bust local Dollar General for scanning errors

By Bill Moss, Published: June 25, 2015

If you shop at the Spartanburg Highway Dollar General, it would be a good idea to check your receipt. State regulators have fined the discount retailer's unit for excessive price-scanning errors.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Standards Division reported in a news release that it had collected fines from stores in Franklin, Gaston, Henderson and Wake counties for the errors.

The department's inspectors conduct periodic unannounced inspections of a business’s price-scanner system to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register. If a store has more than a 2 percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection at a later date. Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store.

The Dollar General at 1942 Spartanburg Highway paid $1,770 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in March found an error rate of 5 percent, based on five overcharges on a 100-item lot. A second inspection in April found an error rate of 6 percent, or 18 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,770 in civil penalties and will be re-inspected.

Penalties are assessed if a store fails the follow-up inspection. In addition to the penalties paid, the store will be subject to re-inspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the 2-percent-or-less rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if the store fails a re-inspection.

“Inspecting price scanners protects consumers,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a news release. “We want businesses to be diligent in ensuring accurate prices to their shoppers. In the past six months most businesses have shown favorable inspection reports. We like this trend and hope it continues. Consumers can contact our Standards Division at 919-707-3225 to register a complaint.”

Other stores fined were:

• Dollar General #6285 at 395 Main St., Bunn, paid a total of $502.50 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in February found an error rate of 14 percent, based on seven overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in March found an error rate of 3.67 percent, based on 11 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $502.50 in civil penalties. In June, the store was re-inspected and passed with a 1.33 percent error rate.
• Dollar General #1062 at 1530 Lower Dallas Hwy., Dallas, paid a total of $5,330 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in January found an error rate of 6 percent, based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in February found an error rate of 5.67 percent, based on 17 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $2,550 in civil penalties. A third inspection in April found an error rate of 6 percent, based on 18 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $2,780 in civil penalties. The store will be re-inspected.
• Carquest Auto Parts #1107 at 3321 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, paid $675 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in January found an error rate of 5 percent, based on five overcharges in a 100-item lot. A second inspection in February found an error rate of 2.67 percent, based on eight overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $675 in civil penalties. The store passed an inspection in April with an error rate of .67 percent, based on two overcharges in a 300-item lot.
• Pep Boys #4 at 6806 Davis Circle, Raleigh, paid $1,775 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in April found an error rate of 8 percent, based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in May found a 7.33 percent error rate, based on 22 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store was assessed and paid a $1,775 civil penalty and will be re-inspected.