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A Mocksville store was among those cited by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division because of excessive price-scanner errors.   

Dollar General at 1334 Yadkinville Road, paid $6,290 in penalties. An initial inspection in November 2022 found an error rate of 20 percent based on 10 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in January found an error rate of 13 percent based on 39 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 7.33 percent based on 22 overcharges in a 300-item lot.

The store will be reinspected.

“Our Standards Division closely watches stores to ensure that consumers are protected,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This is an important function to make sure North Carolinians are being charged the prices they see on shelves. While our work will continue, it is important for consumers to check their receipts regularly and notify store managers if they see a discrepancy.”

The department conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of price-scanner systems in businesses to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register. If a store has more than a 2-percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection later.

Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store.

Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors they encounter, can call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.

  Penalties are assessed if a store fails a follow-up inspection.

In addition to the penalties paid, the store will be subject to re-inspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the 2-percent-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails a reinspection.

In the latest round of inspections, the department has collected fines from 37 stores in 22 counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.