Puzzle Zoo busted for overcharging an undercover official by almost $40
DOWNTOWN — A Santa Monica toy store has been accused of overcharging a customer, which makes it the 10th local retailer this winter to be pursued in court for the charge. Prosecutors said there are another three stores that soon will be charged.
The Promenade-based Puzzle Zoo allegedly overcharged an undercover official last summer by $39.97 for one item. Charges against the store were filed earlier this month, and an arraignment is scheduled for Mar. 3.
Jay Demircift, owner of the four-outlet Puzzle Zoo chain, said the overcharge was accidental.
“It was an honest mistake on my cashier’s part,” he said. “These are human beings, and they make mistakes sometimes.”
In December, nine retailers were accused of overcharging their customers, in some cases by as much as $100. Eight of the merchants have pleaded guilty to the counts and agreed to pay a total of $40,000 in penalties and fines.
Among the stores are fashion outlets Bebe, Diesel, Urban Outfitters and the Gap, drugstore Walgreens, bookstore giant Barnes & Noble and the Coffee Bean on Montana Avenue. The overcharges ranged from as little as $2 up to $100.
But although other outlets have agreed to plead guilty and put the matter behind them, Demircift said he doesn’t think he should have to pay for the mistake.
“I’m going to fight this, because it was not a customer, first of all,” he said, adding he also hasn’t received any paper-work. “It was weights and measures, and these people make me pay taxes to have them come out and pay for my mistakes.”
“I’m going to fight this... these people make me pay taxes to have them come out and pay for my mistakes.” — – JAY DEMIRCIFT Owner, Puzzle Zoo
In December, Diesel, Bebe, Urban Outfitters, Carlton Cards, Barnes & Noble, Walgreens, Sears, and the Coffee Bean on Montana Avenue all pleaded guilty to overcharging a customer and agreed to pay a total of $39,075.89 in fines and penalties, according to sentences handed down by Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins. One other retailer, the Gap, has continued its arraignment until Feb. 13.
The stores were targeted in an undercover retail sting conducted last summer by investigators from the LA County Weights and Measures bureau, a division of the LA County Department of Agriculture. About $400 will be paid to the bureau for each of the charges to cover the costs of the investigation, officials said.
Deputy City Attorney Adam Radinsky said there are three other big-name merchants that will be charged as a result of the same sting, but said they couldn’t be named until they are served with the proper paperwork from City Hall.
Jeff Humphreys, deputy director of the Weights and Measures bureau, said his team of 14 inspectors regularly patrols all 8,400 LA stores that have scanners. Since February of 2002, stores have been required to pay a sliding-scale registration fee for scanners to cover the costs of the investigations.
Radinsky said consumers should be aware.
“This is an area of consumer protection that is almost a stealth area, because most consumers don’t know when they’re being overcharged — especially at supermarkets, discount stores and other places where they might buy a large amount of items at one time,” he said. “Consumers should know that it is a crime to charge more than the posted price and they should check their receipts very carefully.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 26, 2004. Read the original PDF.