Good Lifestyle

When you're shopping on a budget, there are certain stores you know you can count on. Walmart stores and Dollar Generals are two of these hubs, known for their unbeatable bargains and daily deals. But these two companies have recently come under fire for something they've done to customers, which may make you wary about heading in to shop. Read on to learn more about why Walmart and Dollar General are now facing backlash—and why you'll want to hold on to your receipts if you do shop at either chain.

Kaugnay:Walmart Is Closing These Stores Permanently on May 20.

As larger companies, both Walmart and Dollar General have dealt with controversies, which include everything from questionable product advertisements to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections. Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Walmart, as well as Kohl's, for carrying products that allegedly falsely implied they were made with environmentally-friendly bamboo. In reality, these products—including bedding, towels, and bras—were made with rayon.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB.

Dollar General has found itself under fire for products in its inventory also. In Aug. 2021, roughly 155,000 lounge chairs sold at the chain were recalled after it was found that they could collapse unexpectedly. If a finger was caught in the metal folding joints, this created an "amputation, laceration, and pinching hazard," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said. Now, both Walmart and Dollar General are facing new allegations—and this time, it could affect your wallet.

According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA & CS), 11 stores in the state—including Walmart and Dollar General locations—were fined due to "excessive price-scanner errors." Stores were located across North Carolina, in Ashe, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Moore, Surry, Watauga, and Yadkin counties.

The increase in price-scanner errors is tied to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resultant staff shortages, according to Steve Troxler, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner. "It is always a good practice for consumers to check their receipts as well as the price on the shelf to make sure that they are paying the correct amount," Troxler said in the press release.

Chad Parker, manager of the NCDA & CS Standard Division Measurement Section, told The Charlotte Observer that there has been a Pakitala ang numero of these overcharge complaints and fines in North Carolina. Walmart and Dollar General locations alone have been fined a combined total of $48,760 over the past four months, but other stores have also been overcharging customers. One Ingles (a supermarket chain) location and two Advance Auto locations were hit with $10,530 in combined fines, according to the NCDA & CS press release.

The 11 stores listed were just a fraction of the 42 total stores that have been fined in North Carolina during the first quarter of 2022. Inflation is also a contributing factor, Parker said. Prices are downloaded from corporate locations, but store employees have the challenging task of manually changing shelf tags. And with rapidly changing prices, anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 tags could be changed each week, according to Parker. "Obviously, that's going to be much more challenging to do," he told The Observer.

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These price discrepancies are found when NCDA & CS inspectors conduct inspections of store locations, which are periodic and unannounced. If more than a 2 percent difference is noted between the listed price and the prices that ring up on the register, the inspector speaks with the manager and schedules a follow-up inspection. Stores incur penalties when they fail these follow-up inspections and are then reinspected every 60 days until getting the error rate under the 2 percent mark. If they continue to fail inspections, stores can also incur additional penalties.

While some locations have passed inspections, others still need to be reinspected, including two Walmart locations, three Dollar Generals, and one Advance Auto store.

Kung nakita mo na ikaw ay overcharged sa isa sa mga lokasyon na ito, inirerekomenda ng NCDA & CS ang pagtawag sa Mga Pamantayan ng Dibisyon sa 984-236-4750. Ang mga opisyal ay nagpapaalala rin sa mga mamimili na bigyang pansin ang kanilang mga resibo. "Ito ay nakakaapekto sa bawat customer," sinabi ni ParkerAng tagamasid. "May potensyal na maging overcharged tuwing bumili ka ng isang bagay."

Charles Crowson., Direktor ng Walmart Press Office, corporate communications, sinabiPinakamahusay na buhayMayroong "mga proseso sa lugar" upang matiyak na ang presyo na nakikita mo sa istante ay kung ano ang darating sa rehistro.

"Hinihikayat namin ang mga customer na magdala ng mga iregularidad sa presyo sa pansin ng Associate o Manager," sabi ni Crowson sa isang email. "Maligaya kaming magtrabaho upang matugunan ang bagay."

Ang Dollar General ay hindi agad tumugon sa isang email mula saPinakamahusay na buhay humiling ng komento.

Kaugnay:Ang Walmart at Walgreens ay nasa ilalim ng sunog para sa pagbebenta nito sa mga mamimili.