Target: Paying $4 Million for Overcharging Customers (Mostly Due to Expired Shelf Tags)
Yikes! Target is paying a whopping $4 million for overcharging customers. Apparently, Target has been caught charging customers more at the register than the posted price on the shelf due to expired shelf tags that were not been removed. Click here for more information.
Have you experienced this when shopping at Target or other stores? If so, did you catch the mistake in store and how did you handle it?
(Thanks, Ben!)
I think the more important story is yeah they may honor price but why should we have to sit there and memorize every price of every item we pick up when they should be ringing up the correct prices. If I have a cart full of stuff it’s not that easy to watch every price when you are unloading your cart. I love Giant Eagle who will you give you the item for free if it rings up at a wrong price.
Happens all the time at the grocery store. More often at poorly managed stores where they don’t keep up with price changes in a timely manner.
I always check my receipts so whether they charged wrong or not I make it my responsibility to check that I only paid what I should have paid. Even if you have a large order a pencil and small notebook to track what your total should be isn’t a bad idea if this happens to you a lot.
I (like many people here have commented) would also like to know where the 4 million is going…
Absolutely! I’m curious as well.
Uncle Sam always wins. Even when you win the lottery, guess who also wins big? Yup, our awesome government.
Around Christmas time when they had thier stocking stuffers on sale I bought a Star Wars Chapstick that was labeled as $1.49 but when I went to pay for it, it rung up at $11.94!! Luckily I caught it and they just took it off and gave it to me for free. No way I was paying that much for Chapstick!
this happened to me too! Only I didn’t catch it til I got home. Called, they gave me a giant hassle. when I went in, they were nice 🙂
Recently I purchased a 12 pack of coke and was charged for an ottoman! After going back, they had to review security footage to make sure it was true. They promptly refunded my money. Makes me wonder how often in the past it had happened and how many other people were over charged.
Funny story…but still a major hassle.
yes this has happened to me a few times at target, some i have caught and other i have not. When i do catch it the cashier and i have to walk back to the shelf to look at the tag in order for them to price adjust it.
This has happened to me several times at Target and I usually catch it before I leave the store but I was in a rush this week so I did not realize four items rang up regular price until I got home. Luckily I have a picture of the shelf tag so I hope Target will honor it when I go back next week.
My experience with my local grocery store is much better. I was given a product for free one time when the price rang up wrong. I offered to get the difference back but manager insisted giving me a full refund. Also, if any of their items are out of stock, the manager would offer me an alternative.
Let my daughter pick out a doll. She had $20.00 to spend and took an agonizing hour to pick the one she wanted which happened to be on sale for $19.99. Got to the register and it rang up for $32.99. I begged to differ and marched a manager right over to the place on the shelf where there were three more just like it. Fought for the posted price and got it!!
I wonder how do you find out if you had been over charged?
I have, but I usually catch it after I get home of course, because as everything is ringing up I am still usually unloading the cart. I will typically just circle the receipt when I catch it, and bring it back with me to the store next time. The customer service is typically good about it.
And yes, where is that money going??
Always a struggle when my little kids are with at Target. About 25% of the time, I get back in the car, check my receipt & have to get kids back out of car &go back in to get a refund. Hard to catch all incorrect pricing at register when kids distract me!!
so true!!! sometime i dont go back because of my son making me mad!!
Same here too 😒
Happens at our Walmart all the time. They will not honor the shelf price and insist their ‘system’ price is correct. One of the many reasons I avoid Walmart!
HA! once at Wally World, they had a big display of Campbell’s Soup with a sign that said 4/$3.00, something like that, so i grabbed 8 cans ($6, right?). Went through the checkout, she charged me regular price of $1.07! I argued, but she said “sorry, i have to go by what the reg rings up.” I told her I would cruise back by the display and make sure, if she didn’t mind. When i got back over there I was stunned to find that DURING my shopping THEY HAD CHANGED THE PRICE!!! From that point on, if i have any reason to think they might pull that again, i take a foto of the price/product (or like recently when the battery kiosk had two different prices, on SHELF tags mind you, for the exact same brand, type, and pkg size of batteties, on opposite sides of the display.) They shouldn’t be allowed to change the price while customers are in the store; somehow I’m certain there’s a law against it, but I’m sure they will keep doing it as long as they get away with it.
This happened to me yesterday on three items. I knew my receipt was more than it should be but I had to leave to pick my daughter up from school. I went back and told them what was wrong and they gave me 2 $3 off any purchase – We’re sorry for the inconvenience Target coupons. I was OK with the coupons but I was frustrated that I had to go back since they should have rang up right the first time.
I watch everything as it’s being rung up and I always check my receipts, but I wouldn’t blow a fuse or sue Target if I was overcharged. Target always gives me full price on my coupons, and I save so much at Target with all the ‘extra coupons’ they have that I never complain about Target. I hope this doesn’t make Target turn into a crappy store like Walmart because of a few errors with price tags. And where is the 4 million going? Oh Target, I love you, you’re still the best store!
I don’t understand what’s so hard about checking receipts either no one in perfect and of course stores make mistakes.
It happens every single time we go in. My husband has a big joke that I check my receipt in the car before we pull out of the parking lot. My target is VERY good I just bring back my receipt and they usually fix it with out even checking.
Nope, they are a multi-million dollar corporation, and they should NOT be making these mistakes! Of course any mistakes the computer/register does is because of Human error. Remember the old “Garbage In; Garbage Out” adage from when computers first started running the world? It still applies. Its just too hard to remember every price, and almost impossible to even see the shelf tag let alone compare the SKU on the product against the teeeeeny tiny one on the shelf– sometimes its not even the product it goes with. I often peel the sticker off, and compare with product, and purposely put it back haphazardly, hopefully sending a message! Another tactic i do is to write the shelf price on my shopping list as i check off items, giving me a small advantage, and they often adjust the entire system for that item right then and there, on my say-so! Actually kind of strange when you think on it. But when Targét opened in our area about 30 years ago, if they rung up an item, and you changed your mind (within two seconds!), THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE ORDER!!!! You had to go stand in the customer service line and GET A REFUND!!!! I love you, too, Target, but get your act together! I shop at WalMart, but Target needs to stay classy! Ripping people off does not look good on you!
And by the way, you might remember a similar thing happening some years back when Safeway was caught just randomly adding a penny here and there to items in your order (as well as the thousand or two others visiting same store that day), so when you got home with your forty items, you look at your receipt total of $120.40, you said, “sounds about right,” and went on your merry way. Your quality of life went on as before (which isnt true for lots of struggling people, where 40 cents means something). They cheated the public on purpose and they paid the price; Target is just lazy and/or sloppy. Theres no excuse for either.
My target is terrible about this!!! Last time I walked the CS lady over to the price, clearly marked with the exact item I bought and she told me she would “give me the price on the tag *this* time”. I was like ummmm I’m pretty sure you will always have to give me the price on the tag! lol. I’m glad they are getting fined!
Agreed. One of the last times I was at Target, something didn’t ring up. I caught it, went to costumer service, they wouldn’t fix it and told me “you already get your stuff cheap, you should leave it well alone”. WHAT?! I left fuming.
first let me say, regardless, target is my favorite store and this happens EVERYWHERE! It does happen to me frequently at target…if it’s more than a few cents, I point it out. On the flip side, target often doesn’t charge me for items or undercharges me. I have had to start paying attention to point that out as well.
I notice this happening at Target and Ulta a lot. Items that are not on sale/regular price ring up for a totally different amount than the tag states. Then I get dirty looks from other shoppers when I’m asking for my 25 cents back. Makes me think twice before I shop there!
I thought i heard on tv that this suit was filed in california, so maybe it applies only there?
Meh this is really lame. Target is not the only place I’ve had this issue I usually have a problem at other places more. Instead of old tags the biggest problem I find is when there is NO TAG at all on an item. 4 mil paid to??? And 4 mil is not a big deal to a retailer like Target though they now have something to blame higher prices or layoffs on. Mistakes happen a worker misses a tag or puts a clearance tag on an item but doesn’t mark it down in the system… mistakes happen. Its annoying, it can be frustrating,and it wastes the customers time but its a mistake no need to go making lawsuits. I doubt that this will bring much improvement to anything. You may see digital price tags more though they have had those at military commissaries for three years. They don’t remove tags and replace the price they just aim a scanner at the tag and the price get changed.
Just happened to me the other day. The price on the shelf was lower then what I was charged ended up going to customer service and getting $6 back
It doesnt just happen at stores this has happened to me at verizon I realized it when they rang me up the employee was nice and honored the price but took it down as soon as I told him it was like 100 dolla difference
I did! I bought 4 bottles of clear care eye solutions.
Tag price was :$7.99
charged me :$9.59
found out right before I walked out the store and went back to get the difference.
All. The. Time.
This happens all the time at the Target that I shop at. It’s very annoying because CS must be called and then sent out to check the shelf tag before they will make any corrections.
I also have had this happen to many times at target – to the point where I price check constantly and read every line on the receipt before leaving the store. As others have said though, on the flip side my target frequently gives me overage on free item coupons and I have had at least three times where they forgot to ring an item entirely (which I never notice until I’m unpacking my bags at home or I would point it out). So for me it kind of evens out. If there’s a great deal though and an old sticker on the shelf, I always take the sticker with me to the register and ask them to honor the price.
I have been overcharged several times but with 3 kids and being 9 months pregnant I was not about to unload everyone out of the car to go back in. The last time was with the Motts applesauce. Was charged $1.99 instead of $1.66.
Happened to me on the Mott’s too!
Got charged 2.69 each for the Ziploc bags that were on special @ 2 for 2.50 last week. Didn’t check the CRT until I got home – MY BAD! I took them back to return them, didn’t want to hassle over the price, they offered them to me at the 2 for 2.50 price and I said SURE! The checkers at my regular store go out of their way to help me, are kind, cheerful and I really like them.
This happens to me almost every time I shop anywhere! It’s frustrating to have to watch every price as its rang up, but it’s definitely worth it!
Just curious…who’s getting that 3.9million?!?!
Target is really not the only one and I am not sure why everyone is targeting at Target. Pricing mistakes happen everywhere and I have not yet found a store has never had a pricing mistake. Yes this does happen at Target, but also other way around too. We often found prices lower at the cash register than the tags and this are considered pricing mistakes as well. Overall Target has given us best chances for the best prices when you combine manufacturers coupons, cartwheels, TPC or sale prices, gift cards and of course their own Target coupons.
I think frequency is the discerning factor. It has to me A LOT at Target. The other surrounding stores, even my Walmart, very rarely.
The $4 million fine is a joke. They overcharge you so many times, I am sure they made much more than $4 million with all the money they overcharged millions of people. Every time I go to Target, I always swear it will be my last. I can’t believe it took so long for them to get caught and punished. I wish every state would go after them, not just California. Target argues with you about everything and they are the ones almost always wrong.
Every store is different and corporate is OKAY with that for some reason. There were four targets I shopped at in CA and they all had different ideas about coupons and store procedures. The Vista store was horrid, the employees were horrid, “their coupon policy” was not the same as corporate and was stupid, the store didn’t stock sale items… just horrid.. I stopped going there. The Oceanside store was AWESOME to me!! I always ALWAYS had great finds and all but one cashier was good with coupons and I didn’t see that one for long(maybe they transferred to Vista haha). The store I shopped at in WI was GREAT as well! The store I shopped at in IA… I swear the whole place is stuck in 1995. Their selection for clothing sucks and they seemed to not stock sale items and regional sales seemed to never be that region.
I think I have always had worse issues with Wal Mart on prices not being right from shelf to register.
I agree that a 4mil fine is stupid and pointless but I don’t think that every state should go after every target with torches and pitchforks.
I price check anything dubious, on price cut or on clearance. If it doesn’t match up I don’t get it. Life is too short to argue every penny with them. They have such a great coupon policy and selection on things that I won’t stop shopping there. This lawsuit is pretty ridiculous, in my opinion.
this has happened to me multiple times. usually i catch it (because I watch what I spend).
I am glad to know I am not alone in this. I am constantly having to correct the $ at Walmart and especially Kroger.
Yes! Every single trip. I have finally taken my receipts in to show customer service but they wouldn’t do anything. I even took a picture of the shelf tags. It mostly happens with bread, cereal, and snacks. Ugh!
I HATE target. The only target in my area NEVER has anything in stock and their prices always ring up wrong. If I try to use coupons it never works. I don’t like Walmart either so I do almost all shopping at Costco, Harris Teeter and Amazon. Amazon is great if you have prime. I even order fingernail files on Amazon.
Safeway is another big culprit. So frustrating, if you xatch it line you get dirty looks from other customers or u go to cs & waste 20 minutes minimum. I loved walmarts old policy if $3 with error it was free. They lost so much money they cancelled it as soon as old man passed.
Happens all the time at Target, especially on items that are on sale and the sale price doesn’t ring up. Used to love Target, but their crazy return policy and this will probably drive me back to Walmart. I can’t stand a thief and that’s basically what this is.
so true – it really is plain and simple theft
Security breach last year and now this. NO THANK YOU TARGET – Go AMAZON! Target just sells cheap junk most of which you don’t need anyway.
The state of Michigan has a “Bounty Law” whereas the store must match the price on the shelf or display. They also must refund you ten times the difference – up to $5. I’ve gotten them “bounty” many times – sometimes the same week because they still hadn’t change the price correctly the next time I visited – Target, Walmart, Meijer, etc – every store must honor this law. It’s a nice consumer protection.
Publix here had a similar offer where you would get the product for free. One time it was a BOGO and they charged me for both. When I went to the customer service desk they gave me one free and charged me for the other. I told them they essentially just gave me the item at the price it should have been (BOGO) and so their policy doesn’t compensate the customer in any way for having to go through the hassle. They told me ‘Look, we are giving you one for free!’ meh
That was a poorly trained publix CS rep. They should have given you the sale price (BOGO), plus the item free as per their policy. If you’re in FL, you should have gotten both items free, if you were in another state you should have gotten one half off and one free.
Lame brains, unfortunately. Common sense is not very common!
Just recently when I bought the ziplock bags it happened. They over charged me $1.66 (.88 for each box). The lady said it was just a few cents n I said that when ur not working those cents add up. She went a head n made the adjustment.
It happens a lot more than you think. You almost have to remember what each product you are buying costs. When it happens to me I tell the cashier and them I usually have to go to the service desk to get reimbursed.
I too overpaid for motts applesauce and bananas but did not go back as I did not check the receipt until I got home.
Happens all the time and even when it’s on sale in the Sunday Circular. Target does usually give the price override, but watch out they are also bad for selling expired food. I have called corporate but they didn’t seem to do much. It is a huge problem at my Super Target, just today I have to give an employee cottage cheese which I was buying for making dinner tonight and it was expired on Feb 6th. I have had many problems with dairy and bagels. The managers never seem to care they just say they will pull it. Last year we were at Target in upstate New York buying our baby some applesauce packets and it had expired by over 6 months. So sad.
I went to Target yesterday to get the Motts Applesauce deal that Collin posted. They are posted 3 for $5.00, they rang up $2.14 each and I did not catch it until this morning now I have to go back to the store.
The state that brought the lawsuit keeps the money. I wouldn’t be surprised to see other states doing the same thing.
Target isn’t the only store. I’m sure these same people aren’t about to empty their pocket books and give back the money for being undercharged (maybe the item is tagged $5.99 but it’s scanning $1.50) or having an item not scanned or given the full value of a coupon rather than the selling price (ie $7.99 instead of $5.99).
I’ve had it happen at CVS & Rite Aid, and as soon as I noticed it, the cashier overrode the price. Sometimes corp raises prices in the computer system before the workers have had a chance to change the tags. Or sales tags haven’t been taken down (like the Ziploc deal, tags are up, but the price was changed in the system back to full price). As a consumer, it is my duty to make sure I’m not being overcharged. There are times I haven’t caught a price error, and if it’s within the same wk, I try to get to the store for an adjustment. If not, no biggie, b/c karma usually has a way of working around and an error works in my favor. (as stated above, a coupon giving max value or I’ve had 5 items, but only 4 were scanned)
Guess this suit will increase prices. Sheesh…
I’ve caught this happening to me at my Target. I would just go to customer service and they’d refund the difference right there. Still would be interested in seeing what happens with this.
Yeah, I also think that it happens everywhere. I hadn’t noticed until I started couponing. Now I know… I check and see the price whenever my cashier scan the item. I also noitce that they miss scan some coupons as well. I have to check if they scan my coupons correctly. If I didn’t tell them, I would have lost over $50 from September 2014.
This shouldn’t be not only for suprer markets… For work too..
I don’t know if someone think of the same way that I do think of Target receipt…
It is very complicating for me to check Target’s receipt when it encounters with a special offer such as a Target gift card.
In addtion to that above, Watch out when you do price match at Walmart or Target,
You really have to check if they correct the price that you want. When I have five poptarts that I wanted to pricematch for $1.67, The casheir did right on the first one ,but the others were regular price, which was $2.50.
Just yesterday I was overcharged by $2.00 on kcups. I didn’t have many items in my purchase, so I happened to notice and customer service refunded the difference. It makes me wonder how many other times this has happened and I didn’t notice!
I have had it happen a few times and yes it’s mostly expired tagging. I used to work at Target so I know how to read the dates on the signage and have actually snapped a picture of the sign to show cashier before. I actually once took the sign to customer service, almost 3 weeks old the price was.