The Importance of Honest Retailers!

I am constantly checking receipts. I am constantly filing my receipts ( by the way, did you pull your April envelope out yet for all your receipts and put it in your car? ).

I know, from past experience over the years, that items ring up wrong. And, I know they ring up wrong a lot. And, I also know, it is RARELY ever in my favor. It is almost always in the favor of the company.

So, as I stroll out of a store, I meander slowly so I can go over my full receipt. I have had issues where they have rang items up twice, or forgot the sale price, or the item was on the wrong shelf ( leading me to believe an item was another price ).

Everytime, I stroll right back into the store to get the issue fixed, of course. Because believe me, if I get into my car and drive away...I may never get the issue taken care of properly.

Watching your receipts truly is a way to manage your finances. Let me ask you? Do you work hard? Does your husband work hard? Of course, and that is your money. $1 here and $1 there does add up. It does! If I am going to hand my money to someone, it is going to be a charity of my choosing.

In addition, if you are a conscientious shopper like I am, we work hard to find the best deal on items. It puts all that sale shopping time we invested to waste if we aren't getting the appropriate prices.

Check those receipts. And, remember, Kroger has a Scan Right Guarantee, too, where you will get the item free if it rings up wrong.

So, let me tell you my little story from today.

My son starts his first Baseball practice tomorrow, and this is the first year he needs a cup. So, we went to our local Dick's Sporting Goods to check out what they had available. We found many different styles with most being about $30. Then, we stumbled upon a rack that had a row of them for $14.99 on a hanging rack. Perfect! Half the price.

Now, I am careful about making sure items appear to be in the right spot. This is not to say I don't ever get this wrong, but I know items can be in the wrong spot so I am always making sure the price appears to match the item.

So, when we looked, the cup we were buying was hanging on a row. There were four others hanging in the exact same spot. FOUR!! I felt pretty comfortable that this was the right product for that price.

We check out, we are walking to the car and I am going over the receipt and notice it rang up at $29.99. Now, wait a minute!!!

So, back I went. The girl that checked me out was super sweet. I rechecked the shelf before I went to the register ( was I wrong? ) and yes, there were still four others hanging in the spot.

The girl said we should be able to give it to you for the $14.99, hold on, let me get the manager to agree. Well, the manager was at the very next register checking out an elderly couple. I think they thought I was nuts when I started talking.....because this is how the situation played out.

The manager turned, looked at the product, and said, no..that is clearly a $30 product. We cannot give it to her for $14.99. Now, mind you, I hadn't asked for it to be marked down. In fact, if I grabbed the wrong one, just give me the right one for that price....I don't care.

The clerk told him that there were many on the rack for that price, and he said, no..they are in the wrong spot. And, he turned around, never apologizing or making mention it would need to be fixed.

So, then I interrupt him while checking this nice elderly couple out and ask if he can please go back and move all the other products in the wrong spot. He kind of looks a bit surprised. And, I go on ( and this is my main problem with any store that doesn't fix these issues ) to tell him that by leaving his products in the wrong spot he is causing his customers to buy their products at twice the price they think they are paying.

And, I went on to tell him I am a customer who checks my receipts, but many don't, and your store is basically stealing $15 from each customer who is going to pick those up and think they are $14.99. Since there were 5 in this spot, that is $75 of overpayment by customers. I do understand the store isn't making over what they should have..since it is a $30 product,but it is false advertising.

By this time, my lady had refunded my money and I stood at the end of his aisle while he finished checking the others out so he would walk back with me and I could watch him move the merchandise. Plus, if he didn't mind ( I was trying to be nice, by the way..not snappy or anything..at least I don't think ) could he help me find the right one.

So, he did go back there. He took them off the hanging racks and just laid them across the bottom of the rack. And, then low and behold...they had none in the $14.99 in the size we needed. Go figure! So, we need to come back or call when they get their next truck.

Anyway, it was an interesting experience, and I have done it before. Even when they adjust a price for me, I always ask...are you going to go fix the issue in your store?

I am A-OK with being an honest consumer on my end. I am. I didn't mind that I had to return the product. If it is a $30 product, it is a $30 product. I totally understand merchandise gets mixed around racks. I used to work retail when I was in college.

But, I do expect them to fix the issue once it is brought to their attention. It is dishonest on their part to leave products in the wrong spot with the wrong price tags. In this economy, consumers are spending more time than ever trying to find the best prices on products, and they don't want to get home just to find out they overpaid....and by $15 nonetheless.

Was I wrong to ask them to move their merchandise? What is your take on this issue?

Well, I will tell you this...if you take nothing else away from this post....check your receipts! Always!



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