Holiday shoppers urged to be mindful of receipt totals
By GABRIELLE HARRADINE Special to the Daily Press
THIRD STREET PROMENADE Heading into the third week of December, it may be that the Santa in you has led to a pile of receipts.
Have you checked them? The County of Los Angeles Weights and Measures (LAWM) recently conducted inspections of retail purchases, which revealed that overcharging errors do occur and often involve items with special promotional offers, “sales” and markdowns. This usually occurs because the new price information has not been updated in the scanner system.
Accidental overcharging could be even more likely to happen during the busy holiday season, considering the fact that many retailers have hired new employees just for the year-end push. Those new workers may not have been given sufficient training, may lack experience and have less at stake if they make a mistake. Another issue that might play a role in errors at the register is the stress of the long check-out lines on employees.
Also, shoppers themselves may feel too stressed or too busy to check their receipts.
At Barnes & Noble on the Third Street Promenade, the bookstore’s staff tries to avoid some of these issues by hiring their holiday workers in August, said John Schatzel, Community Relations Manager of the promenade store.
“By the time the rush hits, they are knowledgeable booksellers,” said Schatzel. “(If an overcharge does occur,) we fix it immediately. We always make sure the customer gets taken care of first.”
On Thursday, shoppers on Third Street appeared to vary in their purchasing habits.
“I don’t buy that much, but I always check what I buy,” said Tilahun Nigussie, a Mid-Wilshire resident doing some Christmas shopping downtown on Tuesday. “So far, so good!”
Danijela Pavlic, visiting from San Francisco, but originally from Croatia, said she never checks her receipts, although admits she probably should.
“I’m not really a huge shopper myself, but I’m going back to Croatia, so I’m buying gifts for family,” she said.
Visiting from Orange County and shopping with her daughter, Linda Lineback asserted that she always pays attention.
“I follow it as they’re punching it in,” said Lineback, adding that hasn’t been overcharged this season. “I think it’s because everyone is being careful.”
A couple coming out of the skate and snowboard store Active turned out to have different receipt practices. Romana Lilic checks hers, while her boyfriend, Mariano Arias, doesn’t.
Officials at LAWM suggest shoppers check their store receipts and encourage consumers to monitor prices at the register. If any errors occur, you should report them to the manager or customer service desk before leaving the store.
Those who realize they have been overcharged after the fact can contact the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/ Weights and Measures at (800) 655-2900 or submit a complaint online at http://acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/scanform.cfm.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.