←back to thread

Dollar-stores overcharge customers while promising low prices

(www.theguardian.com)
514 points bookofjoe | 1 comments | 07 Dec 25 14:37 UTC | HN request time: 0.389s | source
Show context
jefftk ◴[08 Dec 25 01:04 UTC] No.46187156[source]▶
> Red Baron frozen pizzas, listed on the shelf at $5, rang up at $7.65. Bounty paper towels, shelf price $10.99, rang up at $15.50.

This very rarely happens in MA, because when it does the store has to give you the item for $10 off, including if that makes it free. And they have to post a sign at the register explaining the law, which means when you're invoking it all you need to do is point at the sign.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/consumer-pricing-accuracy-...

replies(11): >>46187346 #>>46187375 #>>46187677 #>>46188063 #>>46190237 #>>46190735 #>>46191078 #>>46192065 #>>46193681 #>>46194860 #>>46202034 #
technothrasher ◴[08 Dec 25 02:34 UTC] No.46187677[source]▶
Note that this law is only for certain products. We would have people at the liquor store I used to own point out mislabeling occasionally and claim we owed them the $10 difference from this law. While we tried to work with customers when we made a pricing error, not only does the accuracy law not apply to alcoholic beverages, but it would often be illegal for us to offer the customer the mistaken price. Alcohol retailers in MA are not legally allowed to sell their products for less than they purchased them.
replies(2): >>46187779 #>>46188257 #
Cyclone_ ◴[08 Dec 25 02:50 UTC] No.46187779[source]▶
That's probably aimed at reducing consumption.
replies(3): >>46188344 #>>46192615 #>>46249683 #
1. fsckboy ◴[12 Dec 25 22:17 UTC] No.46249683[source]▶
>That's probably aimed at reducing consumption.

it's aimed at not encouraging consumption which is slightly different. you can have a "hungry hour" where you entice people with food bargains and sell them alcohol, but you can't have a "happy hour" where you entice people with alcohol bargains.

it is also in keeping with other laws intended to create a competitive/collusion free market (not saying the crafting of those laws was not influenced by incumbents trying to maintain their share)