North Carolina Stores Fined for Price Scanning Errors

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The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Standards Division has fined 10 stores across 9 counties in the state for price scanning errors that exceeded the 2% error rate threshold. The stores were fined amounts ranging from $885 to $9,300 after failing follow-up inspections, with error rates as high as 19.33%. The stores will face reinspections until they can pass with an error rate of 2% or lower.

Why it matters

Price accuracy is an important consumer protection issue, as overcharging customers can erode trust in retailers and lead to financial harm. North Carolina's aggressive enforcement of its price scanning laws aims to ensure fairness and transparency for shoppers.

The details

The state inspectors conduct unannounced checks of price-scanner systems at stores across North Carolina. If they find an overcharge error rate above 2%, they notify the store manager and conduct a follow-up inspection. If the store fails the follow-up, they are fined, and reinspections occur every 60 days until the error rate is 2% or lower. The 10 stores fined ranged from dollar stores to larger chains like Circle K and Staples, with the highest fine of $9,300 going to a Dollar General location.

• The fines were issued in the final quarter of 2025.
• Some stores failed multiple inspections between July and December 2025.
• One store passed reinspection in January 2026.

What’s next

The stores that failed inspections will face reinspection every 60 days until they can pass with an error rate of 2% or lower.