County Reminds Holiday Shoppers to Check Their Receipts

DATE: November 25, 2008
CONTACT:
Ken Pellman
Public Information Officer
County of Los Angeles Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights
and Measures
(626) 579-8589/cell (626) 226-6085

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIALS REMIND SHOPPERS TO CHECK THEIR RECEIPTS

ARCADIA, CA - As the holiday shopping season's post-Thanksgiving rush
approaches, County of Los Angeles Weights and Measures officials remind
shoppers to check their store receipts for overcharges. Shoppers are
legally entitled to pay only a store's lowest advertised or posted price
for any item. Our inspections have revealed that overcharge errors do
occur and often involve items with special promotional offers, "sales,"
and markdowns for which price information has not been updated in the
scanner system. Holiday shopping presents many opportunities for such
errors.

Overcharges can be easily missed. We encourage consumers to monitor
prices charged at the checkout register and to report errors to the
manager or customer service desk before leaving the store.

Shoppers who are overcharged should contact the County of Los Angeles
Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures at
1-800-655-2900 or may submit a complaint by logging on to:
http://acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/scanform.cfm

All complaints will be investigated the same day received or the next
business day. It is not necessary to send receipts. Callers should be
prepared to provide the following information:
● a complete description of the item or items
● the shelf price or advertised price
● the price scanned at the checkout register
● the date the overcharge occurred.

The Buyer Beware Program was established in February 2002 after a
sampling of price accuracy at stores throughout Los Angeles County
revealed that overcharges occurred at two-thirds of the locations. The
program requires all stores with automated price look-up systems to
register with the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and
Measures and provides for routine inspections of stores to monitor price
accuracy. Since implementation of the program, price scanner accuracy
has improved due to stringent enforcement by our undercover inspectors.


Established in 1881, ACWM protects consumers and the environment
through early detection and exclusion of dangerous, invasive insect and
plant pests; enforcement of laws and regulations regarding safe
pesticide use; operation of an environmental toxicology laboratory;
clearance of weeds, brush, and debris from vacant land to reduce fire
hazards; inspection and verification of accuracy of scales, meters,
price scanners, and quantity labeling on packaged goods.
# # # #