Secret shopper in Seattle exposes why store sale prices are often wrong, don’t match what you pay at checkout

Core Insights - A Consumer Reports investigation revealed that Kroger-owned retailers have been overcharging customers due to expired sales labels, leading to an average overcharge of 18.4% per item, or $1.70 extra [2][5]. Group 1: Investigation Findings - The investigation involved secret shoppers visiting 26 Kroger-owned stores, uncovering overcharges on more than 150 grocery items, including meat, fish, and medications [2]. - The expired sales tags were identified as a significant issue, with many stores having outdated pricing that resulted in customer overcharges [3][6]. Group 2: Broader Industry Context - Kroger is not the only retailer facing pricing controversies; other stores like Target and Dollar General have also been fined for price scanning errors, with fines reaching up to 22% above the sticker price [4]. - In California, Albertsons was fined $3.9 million for overcharging customers and false advertising regarding product weights, while Dollar General settled for $850,000 over alleged price accuracy violations in Wisconsin [5]. Group 3: Underlying Issues - The investigation indicated that while some stores maintained accurate pricing, those with the most errors were struggling with staffing cuts, suggesting that employee management may be a contributing factor to the pricing issues [6].