Target: Paying $4 Million for Overcharging Customers (Mostly Due to Expired Shelf Tags)
Yikes! Target is paying a whopping $4 million for overcharging customers. Apparently, Target has been caught charging customers more at the register than the posted price on the shelf due to expired shelf tags that were not been removed. Click here for more information.
Have you experienced this when shopping at Target or other stores? If so, did you catch the mistake in store and how did you handle it?
(Thanks, Ben!)
This happened to me at christmas time for several “sale” items. I didnt catch it until a few weeks later. I just ate it. But I did so in protest. I did lots. Of grumbling here at home. Lol
lol
A little different with price mistake, but once I purchased over 100$ worth of products and the register glitched. They refused to let me leave the store until they back checked their logs to make sure my payment went through. I waited for over 30 minutes with 3 kids. While they were checking I looked up my bank account and it showed that I paid, what I paid, the store, time, date, and location. They came back out and told me that it did not go through and that they had to start over. I showed them my bank statement over my phone and they still tried to make me repurchase everything. I refused and they finally let me leave after taking my number just in case. So annoying and rude.
I have no more problem at Target, than Sprouts, Walmart etc. I don’t believe there was anything intentional about what has happened at Target, I presume someone just decided to make a big deal about it. Keep in mind there are good and bad employees at all places of business. It would be impossible for management to detect every hang tag that was not removed, or hung in the wrong place. I choose to focus on Target’s impeccably clean stores, perfectly organized shelves, bright lighting, great coupon deals, and in my case employees that are ALWAYS more than willing to make things right. I agree it can be extra work to check receipts, and for moms with little kids a real pain to return to Target for an adjustment, but all in all, there is no perfect store or store employees. Like all of us they are going to make mistakes on occasion, whether intentional or unintentional.
I second your sentiment
Yes! My Target has an Albertson’s next door so I get most of my shopping done in one car trip. I love the atmosphere of Target and they’re getting really close to the prices at WalMart. The Albertson’s next door has some bad lighting but it’s always an in and out trip anyway. I wouldn’t mind paying an extra $0.25 or so for an item at Target than drive two minutes away and deal with everything at WalMart!
Target charged me for 12 eggs market pantry @3.24 instead of the sale price $1.99..I didn’t check the receipt at store ..so will have go back to get the price difference..it’s frustrating..to go back again n waste time at customer service
They’re suppose to give you the difference when that happens plus 10 times the difference not more than $5 and not less than $1, it’s called the bounty law…
Nice name Idgaf… 😉 In New York State we call it a “super refund” and it’s 10x’s the difference but not to exceed $10
Lol thanks, I’m in Michigan and they limit to $5 here :-/
Can you explain this bounty law thing in more detail? I’ve never heard of this….
And you can only do that if you fully purchase it, receipt in hand. Do not tell them of the mistake beforehand or it doesn’t count for the bounty…
My Target will no longer fix errors like this unless you go back the same day.
All the time..including today! I have started to take pictures of the price tags so I have them just in case. The cashier even “argued” with me that the sale must have ended. Nope – I was right, the date clearly stated until 2/28 at the bottom. Their return and coupon policies have gotten ridiculous as well. This use to be my favorite store but now it’s always a hassle.
Ha😀. I do the same thing with pictures. 👍
this happens all the time in my target. It’s a big joke/head ache with my husband that I have to check my receipt before I leave the parking lot. My target is very good about fixing issues. Most of the time they fix it on just my word alone, no one checks.
During when school was starting i bought notebooks that were supposed to be 50¢ but it was 1.00 and it was in the ad and marked and they have had prices that have increased after just one day.
In Michigan, until we got our new governor, Snyder, there was something called the “Bounty Law” whereby the shelf price had to ring up or the customer was entitled to ten times the amount of the overcharge plus $5. Once Gov. Snyder came in to office, not only did he abolish the Bounty Law, he also abolished unit pricing, so now consumers must rely on their memory (or note) of the shelf price and if there is an error, the store simply refunds the difference, but the heck with the customers who don’t catch the over-charge and good for the stores who make the extra money off all the customers who aren’t paying attention. I know everyone makes mistakes, but it seems like the customers should benefit, not the businesses.
We still have the Michigan Scan law.
Happened to me on Monday! But it was a little weird and I’m thinking the cash register did it. i bought two Party Mix Cat Treat Love Box (3 bags in the box) it was on sale for 3.59. I used two MF which was $1/1. Target mobile $1/2. Cartwheel 10%. I always do my calculations before i shop and the receipt was off. You know how sometimes on target receipts it has the “package total” well after the coupon for the MF $1/1 was taken it was at 2.78. Since when did 3.59 minus $1 become 2.78?. Heres what the receipt read. $3.59 + $3.59 – $1 – $1 – $1 – .62 = $5.56. Wasn’t my total supposed to be $3.56? Can someone tell me if i did something wrong?
Ya suppose to b 3.56 idk wah happened maybe tax?
I notice that if you have multiple coupons (i.e. manuf, target, carhweel) that not all will attach to the “package”. If you look on the receipt does it show the 2 $1 coupons coming off somewhere else. Ive had the extra coupon taken off of totally unrelated items before or at the very bottom. If I do the math for the entire receipt, not just the “package” everything comes up correctly.
The package total reflects the price minus only the target coupon not manf coupons, that’s why when you return something you get refund minus the target coupons but not the manif ones, so manif coupons lower your final total but does not show in the package sub total for example if you buy something for 2 bucks and u have one target coupon and one manif coupon it will show on the receipt as for $1 not zero as it reflects the target coupon and then u will see the mani coupon at the end of the receipt of under the item
Had to take a picture of the item on the shelf and show it at the register
I always look at the receipt and pay attention while they are ringing things up. If something doesn’t ring up right, they are always very nice and correct the issue.
This happens everywhere, not just Target! I always look at my receipt before leaving any store! Of all stores I shop at, they are amazing at fixing at register or customer service. I love Target, I feel bad that they continue to get hit on things that happen everywhere.
I agree. I learned a while back to try and watch everything ring up and at the least check the receipt before you leave. Driving back to the store is not fun. Target is the the best at changing the price at the register without hassle. The second place I see this the most is Safeway and because watching their register is hard with the J4U and extra coupons I have to go to the customer service desk a lot but there is never a hassle there. Always check and if confused ask at customer service.
I’ve had it happen several times at Safeway as well. Always on items on the bottom shelf. I need new specs and cant read the small exp dates if they are on low shelves. I now rip the tag off and restick it after I’ve read it to see if it’s correct. If it isn’t correct I leave it off so it doesnt happen to someone else.
Happened to me today. Found 2 ziploc boxes, on clearence for 2 for 2.88( Collin posted last week) but they rang up 2.60 each. They checked and said this probably was the wrong product….. I double checked before I picked the product up to make sure. Oh well…. ended up returning it and got my money back. I dunno about other stores but in Target you Always Should check the receipt before u get out. 🙁
this just happened to me yesterday… U caught it during the transaction and the cashier fixed it. She also said how it happens all the time – not taking signs/flags down when they are supposed to. It happens a lot which is why when I see a flag with a sale price or gift card deal, I snap a picture of it to show the cashier if they try to tell me no.
I caught it, not U…. LOL
This happens to me many times at Target. I know to check my receipt before I leave the parking lot. Then I go back in to customer service. Sometimes they are great and then other times it takes forever before they understand that they need to give me some money back. I hate the hassle!
This fine was not for all Target stores, just the ones in the San Diego area.
Happens to me all the time. I try to stay on top of it but sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle of going back.
Had it happen last night. Glade plug in twin pack were 2.99 on shelf. Buy three get one free. Only they rang up 4.89 each and didn’t get anything free. I went in after a phone cAll last night ( immediately when it happened) today even though I used my target card they refunded me cash. Crazy right. I think it should have went back to my card plus should have gotten something more for catching there mistake. I have seen shelf prices online for less then sales prides on shelf. For instance. Jiff shelf price was 2.99, sales tag reads SALE 3.49. Buy 4 get $5 GC.
For all the people wondering where the money goes, I read here that since they can’t find all the people that were overcharged, the money will go toward funding future investigations.
https://fox5sandiego.com/2015/02/11/target-to-pay-4m-fine-for-overcharging-customer/
I’ve had discrepancies at Target a few times, but most of mine happen at Kroger. However, if you find you are charged a different price than posted at my Kroger, they refund the money and you get the item for free. This past week, it was a bag of apples and a head of romaine lettuce– over $6 worth of items they charged for incorrectly and then I got them free of charge. It sucks when that happens, but I am always careful to watch the register when I check out and head straight to customer service if it does.
I have never once had this issue at Target. Ever. I have had it happen at Walmart and had it corrected. I always try to watch the keypad when things are scanned to make sure they ring up.
Walmart has this same problem…wonder if that’s why they started the savings catcher..
Walmart’s savings catcher is to match sale prices IN ADS from local competitors, nothing to do w/their own prices.
And, as of tomorrow, they stop matching produce and bakery. They also stop price matching drug stores!
Most of my problems were at Walmart. Had a few at Target but not many. Never really had a problem at Kroger other than once they refused my coupons because I had digitals (fine) but they never gave me back my coupons which wasn’t fair but I went to the courtsey desk and they credit my card for the coupons anyway. I was upset that he didn’t give them back but didn’t notice til I was half way to the car not because they wouldn’t take the paper coupons.
I had this happen just a couple of days ago. Lukily I caught it right before I left the store, but I was charged double the amount for two items
Just happened to me last week. I took my receipt in, showed them the sale ad and they have me a refund.
I saw a winter coat for my daughter on sale for $34.99 which was a great price plus it was on cartwheel at the time. I scanned it at the price check and it said $64.99. I asked an associate who was stocking an isle. She used her magic price machine and it said $64.99. I showed her the sign saying it was a lot less. Her words “That was last week’s sale.”
I also had a few incidents. This one time, I told the cashier the baby girl dress that I was buying was $6.89, but it rang up $8.89. Him and this other Target employee made fun of me and said things and acted as if I lied to get a lower price. I was absolutely insulted that they made me out to be a liar. I love shopping at Target mostly because Hip2Save posts great deals and match-ups, but there times I just feel so humiliated and insulted during checkouts at Target.
I’ve only had it happen once that I noticed. I was getting a bday gift & stumbled across a toy regularly priced about $50 with a sale tag for $19. When it rang up incorrectly they told me I had to go to CS b/c it was such a big difference. (I hadn’t paid yet) CS sent someone to check who confirmed the tag was still there, although apparently the sale had been the previous week. The CS manager had them remove the tag but did honor the price since it was still posted. I was actually very surprised & happy that he said right away he was still giving it to me for the sales price. I’m sure it probably happens a lot and people don’t notice. I probably wouldn’t unless it was a big difference & I was only buying a couple of items. I’m typically a very distracted shopper…by my own thoughts if nothing else.
Target charges 1.99 ea for the applesauce which was advertised as 3 for $5. I have to go back to see.
This just happened to me yesterday. I took a picture of the sign and they honored the expired sale. Annoying that I had to go through the process. However, I will say my Target is always AWESOME at correcting issues. Many times I’ve went to them with an issue, and sometimes didn’t have proof, and they gave me the benefit of the doubt. Overall, they have great customer service.
Happened to me at target!!! Mr clean erasers marked 1.97 buy 4 get $5 gc and they rang up $4.97 with no gift card. However after going through 3 cashiers and 2 managers, I finally got it fixed
The worst store for me doing this has been walgreens. Pretty much every time I’d go shopping there, so now I don’t!
Yes, I was just there and the cashier just changed the price! I usually never shop at Target because they are not very coupon friendly at all! And price matching is a joke at my Target they will find every reason. It to honor it!
Happens at all stores all the time not just at Target! I always watch as things are scanned. One time I got charged a $1 extra at Target for a product that was on sale. The checker would not take it off. So I went with the stocker to the shelf. He was grumbling over a $1. I turned to him and said with a smile on my face “Give me a $1 and I will save you the trip to the back the store.” I get so irritated at people who grumble over a $1. It all adds up.
FYI if this happens at Shop Rite you get the item for free if it was current sale item. If it was not you get it for the price marked on shelf.
By what means are they paying this back to the customers?
I’ve had it happen but luckily I was aware of what the price should be. When I brought it to the cashier’s attention, they changed it no questions asked.
I honestly don’t think I have any more problems there than anywhere else I shop.
I had a couple of experience but when i took the customer desk they refunded me the difference.
Ever since I began using coupons, several years ago, I have been vigilant about knowing what the register should ring up (to the penny). It’s been shocking to see how much this happens – and how often it likely happened before I was even aware of it. It happens a lot at Fred Meyer but I just bring it to their attention and they always adjust it. I have not seen them go change their signage once alerted, however….
Yes, I stopped by customer service and told them. They refunded my money. The next time I went in the sale tag was still there. They never took it down even though I warned them about it the week before.
Yes, this always happens to me at Target. It seems whichever Target I go to, cashiers always seem to be clueless about prices, i imagine thats because of the sheer volume of stuff in each store and the constant changing of prices from one minute to the next but it’s Super Annoying, which is one of the main reasons I avoid Target. Yes, you can find great deals once in a while, but the hit or miss, time wise, isn’t worth it for me. I’ve spent too much time trying to get prices confirmed/ adjusted there. There’s one right near us but I only go if I have no other choice.
Not sure if Collin will read this… but I appreciate your deals list and videos..because last week when I went in to get the Ziploc 2/ $2.50 deal. I asked 2 different salespeople about price. Shelf tag showed the sale tag, when I scanned it ran up $2.99 each. I also noticed from Collins list of deals that the cheese and the Applegate deli items were not marked on sale like her list/video. I asked this really nice sales guy named Curtis about it. He scanned the Applegate product first and told me, “yes it’s on sale, not sure why the sale sign isn’t up”. I walked across aisle and asked about the cheese, I told him what the price should have been “Thanks to you Collin”.. :-)… he scanned it as well and told me apparently the entire aisle had been missed when putting up sale tags.
He told me to tell the cashier that the Ziploc should be $2.25 each and she will adjust it if any problem tell her I spoke with him. I did this and my very very nice cashier believed me without hesitation. She just told me “ma’am I take your word for it”. WOW!.. wish all sales associates/cashiers were this helpful. Very patient when checking me out as well. I had many coupons and was confused about the entire Cartwheel, text offers and all combined.
My question to any of you.. In future I should have let them ring up the item and then take my receipt to register if it is wrong? Instead of initially taking 30 mins. to track down 2 sales associates that both told me the same thing.. (“they are not on sale”) without even attempting to scan them for me…then tracking down that nice guy Curtis to go several aisles over to scan it for me and try to figure it out?
Again, thanks Collin and all involved in posting deals on here. I would be lost without you all helping to combine coupons and deals. I will admit, Target is the MOST confusing place to shop for deals when using coupons and scanning your phone; etc…
Thanks Hipsters for reading my long compliment to my Target associates and complaint and asking for advice.
Happens all the time but they are usually good with doing the adjustment. A lot of time the call the dept on their walkies to confirm.
It happened to me last week when I was going to score the Maybeline New York mascara. The price tag on the shelf was $3.99 and with the $3 coupon off I should pay $0.99!! Instead the mascara rang up for $4.49 instead. I went back to the shelf and I grabbed the price tag and gave it to register so was able to price adjust it. Honestly, I am not happy about the service and the whole experience at Target lately!!
Yes. I went back the next day and someone in produce confirmed he just removed the shelf price tag and told the cashier to reimbursed me the difference.
My question is who gets the $4 million?
I write down the price of everything and calculate a total estimate. If it does not add up…I don’t leave til its right and yes I will fight. Got to take care of my family.
This happens all the time at my local Target (and not just on sale tags), which I wrote the corporate office about. I never leave Target without checking my receipt since almost 100% of the time there is some sort of error. I started taking pictures of the shelf tags with my phone for items as I shop so I could compare with what actually rang up. I will say that Target has an excellent “no-fuss, we will fix it now” policy, but the fact that it happens almost every time I shop there is getting really old.
I have had issues with this at Target. I have done what others have mentioned and that’s taking a picture of a tag. When I showed the picture of the tag on the shelf, she said “I don’t know that the picture was taken here today,” with a snotty attitude. But she honored the prize. I have recently had that happen at CVS also.
I think this is a crap deal, basically. The money goes back to the agency that investigated it to “fund future investigations”. (saw that in another article). No customer is going to benefit from it. In fact, we will all be hurt by it because they will just raise their prices to cover the fine. It happens just about everywhere. It’s human error, most of the time and not intentional. Watch the tags, report any issues to the clerk and they fix it at the checkout stand. If they are rude about it, call for a manager (although they are generally nice). I know it takes your time, but come on people. It’s stupid to fine them $4 million for something like this.
I have caught Target and Walmart both. Now I look at the receipt before leaving the store. Once at Walmart it was a significant amount for me and I called back. Customer service made me so mad that I refused to shop there for a long time. Unfortunately, they are the only store open when I get off work.