Checking the Checker at the Grocery Store
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: January 31, 2013
For many, your weekly trip to the grocery store is a calculated effort, and you expect the price you see on the shelf to be the one that comes up at the register.
Many stores have different ways and days they change their prices. United Super Markets told KLBK they change their prices every Monday morning, so that's one time when shoppers could see a different price than what's listed on the shelf.
Some shoppers said they always check the register when checking out, to make sure they are not getting overcharged.
They also said, they are mostly worried when it comes to sale items.
"Well, I want the most for my money, so if it's on sale, I want the sale price," said Sandra Veazy.
"Some items come up on sale," said LouAnn Brown. "They say they are on sale at the counter and when you get up to the counter at checkout, it doesnt always ring up."
Both women said they have never had a major problem with these issues, so KLBK set out to see for themselves.
Armed with a shopping cart, we hit the aisles to see if items marked on sale came up as the right price. A trip to the Market Street on 89th and Quaker came up correct. That's something that United said they work hard to keep up for each and every customer.
"We've got someone full time working in the store level, doing nothing else but making sure the price you see on the shelf is what rings up at the cash register," said Eddie Owens, with United.
Owens with United Super Markets said their policy is to always try to charge the customer the lowest price during a price change. That's why United will decrease a price in the system before making the change on the shelf.
Owens said in their area stores, each store can range to having between 18,000 to 55,000 items in stock.
"Of course you know, we have to account for human error, we can't say it's going to be perfect," said Owens.
"We'll go hang the higher price tag first and then activate it at the register," said Owens of whenever a prices are going up from being on sale. "If the guest is checking out during that process, they'll get the lower price."
Owens said because they activate the prices in the register last during an increase, that means a customer could be charged less than what is actually out on the shelves.
The responsibility to check the checkers falls on the Texas Department of Agriculture. They have people who shop randomly, at any store, and without warning, to make sure stores are on point with prices.
When the prices aren't right, the store can actually lose money. If too many inaccuracies are found in a trip, the store can actually be fined.
"If you do see something on sale, and it isn't on there, I think it is our responsibility to let them know," said Veazy.
That's exactly what Owens said shoppers should do. He said it's best if the customer alerts the cashier immediately, so they can then check the price, and change it if that is the case.
Many stores have different ways and days they change their prices. United Super Markets told KLBK they change their prices every Monday morning, so that's one time when shoppers could see a different price than what's listed on the shelf.
Some shoppers said they always check the register when checking out, to make sure they are not getting overcharged.
They also said, they are mostly worried when it comes to sale items.
"Well, I want the most for my money, so if it's on sale, I want the sale price," said Sandra Veazy.
"Some items come up on sale," said LouAnn Brown. "They say they are on sale at the counter and when you get up to the counter at checkout, it doesnt always ring up."
Both women said they have never had a major problem with these issues, so KLBK set out to see for themselves.
Armed with a shopping cart, we hit the aisles to see if items marked on sale came up as the right price. A trip to the Market Street on 89th and Quaker came up correct. That's something that United said they work hard to keep up for each and every customer.
"We've got someone full time working in the store level, doing nothing else but making sure the price you see on the shelf is what rings up at the cash register," said Eddie Owens, with United.
Owens with United Super Markets said their policy is to always try to charge the customer the lowest price during a price change. That's why United will decrease a price in the system before making the change on the shelf.
Owens said in their area stores, each store can range to having between 18,000 to 55,000 items in stock.
"Of course you know, we have to account for human error, we can't say it's going to be perfect," said Owens.
"We'll go hang the higher price tag first and then activate it at the register," said Owens of whenever a prices are going up from being on sale. "If the guest is checking out during that process, they'll get the lower price."
Owens said because they activate the prices in the register last during an increase, that means a customer could be charged less than what is actually out on the shelves.
The responsibility to check the checkers falls on the Texas Department of Agriculture. They have people who shop randomly, at any store, and without warning, to make sure stores are on point with prices.
When the prices aren't right, the store can actually lose money. If too many inaccuracies are found in a trip, the store can actually be fined.
"If you do see something on sale, and it isn't on there, I think it is our responsibility to let them know," said Veazy.
That's exactly what Owens said shoppers should do. He said it's best if the customer alerts the cashier immediately, so they can then check the price, and change it if that is the case.
