Wal-Mart, Always Low Prices
Always low prices, but not at the cash register!
Attorney General Terry Goddard accused Wal-Mart Stores and AutoZone of a pattern of violations of state pricing laws going back to at least 2001.
He said six-figure fines levied against both firms under those statutes have failed to get either to comply with the law, with each simply considering the financial penalties a “cost of doing business.”
Goddard said Wal-Mart, the state and nation’s largest retailer, failed more than half the compliance inspections conducted by the state Department of Weights and Measures at its 70 Arizona stores from the beginning of 2001, paying fines in excess of $450,000.
As of June 2006, Wal-Mart’s presence in Arizona includes: 44 Supercenters, 14 Discount Stores, 10 Neighborhood Markets, and 13 Sam’s Clubs, or a total of 81 facilities.
$450,000.00. A lot of money, right? Not really. It’s less than $1,300 a store over the five years, or about $3.52 PER DAY! Ringing up several higher prices will recoup this in a few minutes. The rest of the day is 100% profit.
Bottom line: If you have to shop Wal-Mart, keep track of posted prices, and make a big scene at the check-out line when your item is rung up incorrectly. Fines don’t work but Wal-Mart will not be able to endure the wrath of a screwed senior citizen!
July 13th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
While consistently overcharging at the register might increase profits, what if the system undercharged as frequently as it overcharged; or what if it actually rang up prices lower than the posted prices more frequently than it rang up higher prices? The AG’s report does not make this distinction, but does acknowledge than undercharging indeed occurs and that charging less than the posted prices is not a defense to the imposition of fines. Just how big a scene should I make at check-out when Wal-Mart gives me an even greater bargain than I thought I had?
July 17th, 2006 at 12:21 am
Regarding undercharging: It has actually happened to me at the Sahuarita Wal-Mart and I pointed it out to the clerk and paid the extra money. I’d rather feel good about myself than save a few cents. Her smile and thanks was reward enough.
As to Wal-Mart-phobia such as the case our buddy Rod seems to have picked up, all I can say is, between the entertainment and cheap cat litter, I love Wal-Mart almost as much as he seems to dislike it.