Last Updated on January 14, 2019 4:00 pm
A store in Watauga County and one in Ashe County are among eleven statewide ordered to pay price scanning error fines by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division.
The Staples store, at 1275 Blowing Rock Road in Boone, has paid $1,080 in penalties, according to NCDA&CS. The agency said an initial inspection in July found an error rate of 4 percent based on four overcharges in a 100-item lot. A second inspection in August found an error rate of 4.67 percent based on 14 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in October with an error rate of .67 percent.
Tractor Supply, at 630 South Main Street in Jefferson, paid $1,515 in penalties, according to NCDA&CS. The agency said an initial inspection in August found an error rate of 8 percent based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in September found an error rate of 8.33 percent based on 25 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in November with an error rate of 1.33 percent.
“The price on the shelf and the price at the register should match,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Stores have a responsibility to make sure their pricing is accurate, and most stores pass inspection. Ones that don’t are fined until they come into compliance. Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors can call the Standards Division at 919-707-3225.”
The department conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of a business’ 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.
Penalties are assessed if a store fails a 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 error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if the store fails a re-inspection. The other stores that paid civil penalties in the fourth quarter of 2018 are:
- (Forsyth) Staples #1135 at 430 Hanes Mill Road, Winston-Salem, paid $5,270 in penalties. An initial inspection in May found an error rate of 6 percent based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in July found an error rate of 5.33 percent based on 16 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $2,655 in penalties. A third inspection in September found an error rate of 5.33 percent based on 16 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $2,615 in penalties and will be re-inspected.
- (Nash) Dollar General #9490 at 6424 Deans St., Bailey, paid $810 in penalties. An initial inspection in September found an error rate of 6 percent based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in October found an error rate of 3 percent based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be re-inspected.
- (New Hanover) Petsmart #417 at 4715 New Centre Drive, Wilmington, paid a total of $600 in penalties. An initial inspection in May found an error rate of 6 percent based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in July found an error rate of 2.33 percent based on seven overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in September with an error rate of 1.33 percent.
- (Orange) Dollar General #11584 at 110 Rebecca Drive, Hillsborough, paid a total of $7,260 in 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 an error rate of 3.33 percent based on 10 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $540 in penalties. A third inspection in July found an error rate of 4 percent based on 12 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,715 in penalties. A fourth inspection in September found an error rate of 2.67 percent based on eight overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,750 in penalties. A fifth inspection in November found an error rate of 3.67 percent based on 11 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $3,255 in penalties and will be re-inspected.
- (Pender) Dollar General #2767 at 105 U.S. 117, Burgaw, paid a total of $7,210 in penalties. An initial inspection in February found an error rate of 6 percent based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in March found an error rate of 2.33 percent based on seven overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $670 in penalties. A third inspection in May found an error rate of 5.33 percent based on 16 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,775 in penalties. A fourth inspection in July found an error rate of 3 percent based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,840 in penalties. A fifth inspection in November found an error rate of 5 percent based on 15 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $2,925 in penalties and will be re-inspected.
- (Randolph) Dollar General #3470 at 435 N.C. Highway 49 S., Asheboro, has paid a total of $4,780 in 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 an error rate of 2.67 percent based on eight overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $430 in penalties. A third inspection in July found an error rate of 4.67 percent based on 14 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $2,420 in penalties. A fourth inspection in September found an error rate of 3.67 percent based on 11 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,930 in penalties. The store passed inspection in November with an error rate of 2 percent.
- (Rockingham) Dollar General #17517 at 8376 N.C. Highway 87, Reidsville, paid a total of $7,545 in 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 an error rate of 6 percent based on 18 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,950 in penalties. A third inspection in July found an error rate of 3.33 percent based on 10 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,715 in penalties. A forth inspection in September found an error rate of 6 percent based on 18 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $3,880 in penalties. The store passed inspection in November with an error rate of 1.67 percent.
- (Union) Tractor Supply #417 at 1010 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, has paid at total of $2,255 in penalties. An initial inspection in July found an error rate of 8 percent based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A second inspection in August found an error rate of 4.67 percent based on 14 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,095 in penalties. A third inspection in October found an error rate of 3 percent based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $1,160 in penalties and will be re-inspected
- (Wake) Dollar General #4977 at 421 Brooks S., Wake Forest, paid $1,230 in penalties. An initial inspection in August found an error rate of 3 percent based on three overcharges in a 100-item lot. A second inspection in September found an error rate of 4 percent based on 12 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in November with an error rate of 1.33 percent.
