State fines Big Kmart for excessive scan errors
By Melanie Davis
melanie@highcountrymedia.net

The Big Kmart on Blowing Rock Road has paid $890 in civil penalties to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ standards division for excessive price-scanning errors.

The standards division of NCDACS conducts periodic, unannounced inspections at businesses across the state to check the accuracy of price scanning systems. Inspectors compare advertised prices to the prices that ring up at the register. If a store has more than a 2 percent error rate on overcharges, the store manager is notified and the inspector conducts a more intensive follow-up at a later date.

The Big Kmart in Boone was inspected in August. An error rate of 3 percent was discovered from a lot of 100 items. As per procedure, the store was re-inspected in September. Out of a lot of 300 items, a 3.33 percent error rate was discovered.

The store was assessed $890 in fines following the second inspection.

The store faced up to $5,000 in penalties under the Weights and Measures Act of 1975. The reduced amount was the result of a settlement reached between the Big Kmart and the NCDACS.

The Blowing Rock Road store management declined to comment on the case.

Other retailers that also reached a settlement included Eckerd Pharmacy on University Boulevard in Charlotte of $1,110; Pep Boys on South Boulevard in Charlotte of $4,200; Target on Midway Drive in Knightdale of $690; The Wal-mart Supercenter on N.C. 135 in Mayodan of $5,000; and Staples on Retail Drive in Wake Forest of $1,500.

All of the stores will now be subject to a re-inspection every 60 days until the 2 percent-or-less error rate is met.

All the money collected by the NCDACS is distributed to school systems statewide.

Consumers may report price-scanner error to the standards division by calling (919) 733-3313.