I hope this letter might help any consumers to know what to do if they've been ripped-off too many times at particular stores due to price scanning errors at the register. I had begun my reply in this instance by sending an email letter using the Staples web-site "Contact Us" form.
November 29
Dear Sir or Ma'am,
I'm writing this letter as advised in a document I recently had read at the Federal Trade Commission website, titled: "Making Sure The Scanned Price Is Right".
I live nearby to the Staples office supply store here in Middletown, RI. It's a two-minute walk from my home, in fact. I'm there at the store I'd say, about once or twice per month picking up paper and packaging supplies and an occasional printer ink cartridge.
I've been recently overcharged four times at the register in the past six months or so where the prices I had been charged had not been the price advertised where the item was located in the store. I have not been so upset for the fact that cashiers had never apologized EVEN ONCE or offered the item for free or some kind of discount for the error, but for the frequency of the errors I've experienced! I don't shop at this store all that often, but I've noticed being overcharged frequently in my visits.
The most recent error was this past Monday, November 29th at 5:38 P.M. I had purchased a package of five, small shipper boxes and a roll of brown, wrapping paper for packages. I was overcharged $1.60 on the boxes, which had (to me) an already high price of $7.99 for the item (as advertised near the item). The charge for the package of shipper boxes had been $9.59 at the register, but the cashier, once again, had simply adjusted the error without offering any apology or discount for the error. There also hadn't been any customer digital display available at that cash register check-out area but I was ready and waiting at the register for an error to occur.
I don't trust the Staples store in Middletown any longer and whenever I go into a "Staples" I make sure to remember the advertised prices and to know what the total "should" come to at the register. I don't know if the overcharging, here, at the Middletown store has been intentional, BUT I WILL REPORT THIS MATTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR TO THE LOCAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AUTHORITIES, MAYBE EVEN THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISION IF I GET OVERCHARGED, AGAIN, IN MY NEXT VISITS TO THE STORE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
After noticing I had been overcharged a dollar or two here and there, four times in the past recent months, I know, now, exactly what to do and who to contact. Contacting you with this letter is only a first step in hoping to resolve these matters. I hope this letter might be sufficient (but I doubt it).
I understand that price scanning errors do occasionally occur in any store but, here in Middletown, the cashiers haven't seemed to care or to make much of it, what-so-ever. I haven't contacted the store manager in Middletown as I think this letter will be more effective.
I hope laws in EACH state will someday change to the effect that ALL store's check-out registers have digital displays showing the consumer the price they are being charged on every item! I think your stores (any stores for that matter) should also advertise, at the registers, what their store policy is (do you have any?) for customers that have been overcharged on items due to a price scanner error.
I'll be watching the Staples prices here in Middletown, as usual, in my next visits when I make my occasional purchases. So might "Turn To 10 Consumer Unit" on channel 10, a local TV station in Providence that investigates consumer matters such as this.
Sincerely
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