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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Merchandise will be flying across price scanners in stores all over Kentucky in the weeks to come as consumers shop for Christmas presents for their loved ones. Amid the stress of the season and the dizzying pace of purchasing, Kentucky Department of Agriculture inspectors will work to make sure every Kentuckian pays only the price that’s on the tag.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Ricky Jacobs, left, and Justin Bruner report the name and stock number of an article of clothing with a UPC code that registered a price different from the price on the tag. (Ted Sloan photo) |
“The Department checks price scanners for accuracy as one of its duties as a consumer protection and service agency,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Kentucky consumers should never pay more than the price that’s marked. Our inspectors are there to see to it that doesn’t happen.”
KDA inspectors check retail establishments at random and choose items to scan according to a random sampling plan. The UPC codes on the selected items are scanned to make sure the price on the cash register matches the price that’s marked on the item. Discrepancies between the marked price and the price on the register – even if the register price is less than the marked price – are placed in an inspection report.
A business fails the inspection when two or more UPC codes do not match the prices marked on the items. The Department usually issues a warning and revisits the establishment within 30 days. The KDA can fine a business that fails an inspection and even can order it to use a manual pricing system until the prices in its computer system are corrected.
About 30 KDA inspectors check price scanners all over the state. They are cross-trained to perform other duties, such as gasoline pump inspections, motor fuel quality checks, and egg inspections. The Department has lost about 12 inspectors through attrition over the past five years.
By mid-November, KDA inspectors had conducted 36,092 scanner checks (including follow-up rechecks) in 2005, of which 541 failed.
Consumers who suspect a store’s price scanners may be overcharging customers may contact the Department at (502) 573-0282 and ask for a Weights and Measures Program administrator.
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