Last Updated on April 20, 2026 6:26 pm
The Staples store in Boone has passed its price-scanner inspection and paid off its remaining fine from last year's violations, according to a first-quarter 2026 report from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Standards Division (NCDA&CS).
The store, located at 1275 Blowing Rock Road, passed inspection in November 2025 and paid an outstanding $1,025 fine in January — the final penalty stemming from a September 2025 reinspection that found an error rate of 3.67% for 11 overcharges on a 300-item lot.
As previously reported, the Blowing Rock Road location paid $4,670 in total fines following three failed inspections during the second half of 2025. A July 2025 reinspection had found an error rate of 19.33% — 58 overcharges on a 300-item lot — one of the highest error rates reported for the store. The Staples location has now been fined three times since 2018.
“Inspecting price-scanner systems is one of the more direct ways our department protects shoppers across our state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Even small discrepancies can add up. When a shopper picks up an item, they deserve to have confidence that the price they see is the price they'll pay.”
The department 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. If a store has more than a 2% error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection later. Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store. Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors they encounter can call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.
Penalties are assessed if a store fails a follow-up inspection. In addition to the penalties paid, the store will be subject to reinspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the 2%-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails reinspection.
Other local fines in recent years include:
Dollar General in Foscoe paid $2,240 in fines in 2023.
Earth Fare in Boone paid $94 in fines in 2022.
Dollar General in Vilas paid $1,095 in fines for 2022.
Dollar General in Foscoe paid $1,425 in fines for 2022.
Pet Supplies Plus in Boone paid $750 in fines in 2022.
The Tractor Supply store in Boone, located at 2221 Old 421, paid $615 in fines related to the fourth quarter of 2021.
The Staples store, at 1275 Blowing Rock Road in Boone, paid $1,080 in penalties in 2018.
The Tractor Supply location in Ashe County paid $1,515 in penalties also in 2018.
Following are civil penalties recorded in the first quarter of 2026:
(Beaufort County) Dollar General at 1810 Live Oak St. in Beaufort paid a $915 fine after failing two inspections. An initial inspection in January found a 12% error rate for 6 overcharges on a 50-item lot. A reinspection in February found a 3.33% error rate for 10 overcharges on a 300-item lot, resulting in the fine. The store will be reinspected.
(Brunswick) Dollar General at 1745 Southport Supply in Bolivia passed inspection in March after nearly a year of violations. The store was initially inspected in April 2025 and failed four follow-up inspections in 2025, resulting in $13,245 in fines. The store was reinspected in January and found to have an error rate of 3% for 9 overcharges on a 300-item lot, resulting in a $2,900 fine. In March, the store paid the final fine and passed inspection.
(Chowan) Dollar General at 1503 Virgina Road in Edenton paid a $3,125 fine in January that followed a failed December 2025 inspection. The December inspection found an error rate of 8.33% for 25 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in February.
(Chowan) Dollar General at 413 West Queen St. in Edenton paid a $5,000 fine in January after failing an initial inspection in October 2025 and a follow-up inspection in December. The first inspection found an error rate of 20% for 10 overcharges on a 50-item lot. The follow-up inspection found an error rate of 16% for 48 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in January.
(Hertford) Family Dollar at 1216 East Memorial Drive in Ahoskie was fined $3,595 after failing a follow-up inspection in February. The inspection found an error rate of 5.33% for 16 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.
(Mecklenburg) Family Dollar at 4500 North Tryon St. in Charlotte was fined $5,235 in the first quarter of 2026. The store failed a follow-up inspection in January with an error rate of 4.67% for 14 overcharges on a 300-item lot, resulting in a $2,090 fine. A March inspection found an error rate of 7% for 21 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store was fined $3,145 following that inspection. The store will be reinspected.
(Montgomery) Dollar General at 176 South Wadesboro Blvd. in Mt. Gilead paid a $1,020 fine after failing two inspections. An initial inspection in January found an error rate of 6% for three overcharges on a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 4% for 12 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.
(Richmond) Family Dollar a 1002 East Broad Ave. paid a $3,525 fine after two failed inspections. An initial inspection in February found an error rate of 12% for four overcharges on a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 8.67% for 26 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.
(Union) Circle K at 1071 Chestnut Lane in Indian Trail paid $780 after failing two inspections this year. An initial inspection in January found an error rate of 22% for 11 overcharges on a 50-item lot. A reinspection in March found an error rate of 9% for nine overcharges on a 100-item lot, resulting in the fine. The store will be reinspected.
(Vance) Family Dollar at 112 Raleigh Road in Henderson paid a $2,820 fine after failing two inspections. An initial inspection in January found an error rate of 20% for 10 overcharges on a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found 17 overcharges on a 300-item lot, an error rate of 5.67%. The store will be reinspected.
(Watauga) Staples at 1275 Blowing Rock Road in Boone passed inspection in November. In January, the store paid an outstanding $1,025 fine from a failed September inspection.
