Supermarket Scanner Errors Can Cost Consumers Up to $2.5 Billion Each Year

Sept. 13, 2010 — -- Each year, consumers lose $1 billion to $2.5 billion dollars because of scanner errors.

Even though sometimes mistakes at the checkout counter come out in the customer's favor, that doesn't help the customer who was overcharged.

More errors are found during times of high-volume sales – like holidays, but it can also happen on everyday purchases, as we found out.

We're tagging along – undercover – with inspectors from New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs. Their mission is clear: make sure customers are charged correctly.

CLICK HERE find out how to report mistakes, state by state.

First, they select random groceries to make sure the price listed on the package or shelf matches the price at checkout.

The most common problems are sales not programmed into the register, scales that charge for the plastic package when they're just supposed to charge for the food, and stores that charge tax on non-taxable items.

"It shouldn't be a consumer's job to have to bird-dog checkout," Jonathan Mintz, New York City's consumer affairs commissioner, told "Good Morning America."

Mintz's New York City Consumer Affairs Department recently conducted a sweep of nearly a thousand supermarkets. More than half failed inspection.

"I think the real question is not are they trying to purposely cheat customers, but are they really making the effort to make sure that their customers are charged appropriately," Mintz added.

New York inspectors recently found 16 violations – like a bottle deposit charged when it's not required. And no price per pound listed on deli salads.

"If they're charging it by the pound, then they should tell you how much it does it cost by the pound," Mintz, New York City's consumer affairs commissioner, said.

The sticker price on a package of salami was $3.09. The register price was $3.49 – a 40 cent overcharge in the store's favor.

"It really adds up. It adds up for people who are really watching their budget," Mintz said.

It's not just New York. In North Carolina, state testing found 5 percent of products rang up wrong. In Wisconsin, 4 percent were high and in California, 3 percent. Vermont cited a quarter of its stores for scanner violations. And Arizona inspectors found 91 scanner overcharges earlier this year worth a total of more than $100 dollars.

In California, authorities took the unusual step of filing 62 criminal charges against Ralphs Grocery chain. One allegation was that the stores charged for the weight of ice coating seafood.

"9.99 a pound shrimp is being sold with ice on it so the customer is actually paying 9.99 for some water," said Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney Don Cocek.