Kroger customers overcharged by outdated pricing labels
- An investigation found that shoppers at selected Kroger grocery stores were charged full prices for items marked with expired sale price tags.
- The investigation involved visits to around two dozen Kroger locations across 14 states and Washington, D.C., uncovering issues with pricing labels.
- Kroger denied the claims of widespread pricing discrepancies, stating that it conducts regular price checks to ensure accuracy.
In the United States, shoppers at several Kroger-owned grocery stores discovered discrepancies between advertised sale prices and the prices they were charged at checkout. An investigation conducted by Consumer Reports, The Guardian, and the Food & Environment Reporting Network revealed that participants found over half of the stores they visited had sale price tags that were out-of-date, leading to customers being charged an average of more than $1.70 extra per item. This incident involved inspections of Kroger locations, as well as its subsidiaries, across 14 states and Washington, D.C., including brands like Harris Teeter and Ralphs. The investigation arose from claims made by some Colorado Kroger employees regarding the frequency of outdated pricing. The organizations involved took these allegations seriously, leading to unexpected findings that there were over 150 items found with incorrect pricing labels during their visits. While most competing grocery stores visited had current sale price tags, Kroger was notably singled out for the widespread discrepancies found in their pricing system. In response to the investigation, Kroger issued a statement asserting that the claims of widespread issues with price tags were exaggerated and labeled as 'misinformation.' The company emphasized its commitment to transparent pricing and effective oversight of its pricing systems, claiming to have robust processes in place that review millions of items weekly. They further referred to their operational history, stating that for nearly two decades, their business model has focused on maintaining low prices to draw in more customers. Despite these assertions, the data from the investigation raised concerns about the adequacy of Kroger’s processes. Employees indicated that staffing challenges may contribute to the oversight of outdated pricing, a claim that the company refuted in its official statements. These conflicting views highlight a significant issue within Kroger's operations, as the situation has recently led to increased scrutiny from both consumers and regulatory bodies, compelling the company to address customer trust and pricing accuracy going forward.