Michigan price scanner law-do I have a case for legal action?

[Lucky]

OK, so I went to meijer tonight for an air conditioner, and I saw one with the pricetag on the box for $119. (only one pricetag) Additionally, there was a sign that said 20% off all AC's. Great, the price should be $95.20 if my math is correct. Except I get upto the checkout and the scanner prices it as $119. I told the lady there was supposed to be 20%, and she said that was already factored into it. I disagreed as the 20% off sign said "sale price will be reflected at register". So we went back to look, and apparently the AC that I chose was mispriced, because the other models (behind the one I grabbed) said $139. Going back to the register, we looked at the computer screen and it said "original price $139, sale price $119".

Now, even if the did have the correct $139 sticker on it, 20% off of $139 is $111, not $119. The cashier and assistant manager she called over were adamant that the price as charged was correct.

Michigan has special price scan rules that allow me to contact the attorney general's office and seek their help. From the law:

http://www.michiganlegislature.org/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=mcl-445-354&highlight=

445.354 Charging more or less than price indicated; evidence of violation.
Sec. 4.

(1) A person shall not knowingly charge or attempt to charge for a consumer item a retail sale price exceeding the price required to be indicated pursuant to section 3. It shall not be construed to be a violation of this act to charge for a consumer item a total price less than the price required to be indicated pursuant to section 3.

(2) It shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section if a price charged or attempted to be charged as a result of electronic identification or calculation by an automatic checkout system exceeds the price required to be indicated pursuant to section 3.


History: 1976, Act 449, Eff. Jan. 1, 1978 ;--Am. 1979, Act 193, Imd. Eff. Dec. 21, 1979 .

Popular Name: Scanner Law

Popular Name: Item Pricing Act



Now, what do you think I should have been charged (20% off the mispriced $119, or 20% off $139)? Either way they dont want to seem to budge though it seems clear to me I was overcharged. Should I contact the AG out of principle? :Q

 

[dafatha00]

Well wouldn't that mean you could take off another pricetag on one product and stick it on another?

 

[Lucky]

Well, I suppose so but I surely didn't do that and they have cameras all over the fricken place if they were to claim I did.

 

[silverpig]

Do you really care about the $8 enough to get all this legal stuff involved?

 

[dafatha00]

Originally posted by: Lucky
Well, I suppose so but I surely didn't do that and they have cameras all over the fricken place if they were to claim I did.

I understand that you didn't do that but its possible anyone could have done that. Just because you see a mispriced tag doesn't always mean its the store's fault.

 

[Lucky]

Well, its $25 by my opinion of what it should be. And if they aren't even willing to compromise on the $8 which I am clearly (at the least) overcharged by, then yes, I am willing to do what it takes.

 

[Kenny]

Even if you tried, what kind of proof do you have? Once you storm out of the store, they could changed the pricetag.

 

[MacBaine]

I would contact the AG to make sure that this is just an isolated incident. They've been doing studies these days and they've found that a lot of places charge more at checkout than priced... particularly in grocery stores where people rarely notice. The amounts are usually small, but this store you are at could be doing this on everything in the store and people might not notice. It would be best if you at least report it in case it keeps happening.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: t60
Even if you tried, what kind of proof do you have? Once you storm out of the store, they could changed the pricetag.

From what? Even my receipt clearly states:

Original price: $139
Sale Price: $119

The AC's are advertised in their flyer as 20% off. Now even if I dont argue about the misprice, clearly 20% off $139 is not $119.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: silverpig
Do you really care about the $8 enough to get all this legal stuff involved?

 

[Lucky]

bump

 

[amdskip]

I would simply contact their corporate offices and it should get the ball rolling.

 

[RyanM]

Originally posted by: dafatha00
Well wouldn't that mean you could take off another pricetag on one product and stick it on another?

Yeah, and it happens all the time. That's why the ink that the price is printed with smears when you touch it with your finger; that way, if someone re-tags something by hand, the ink smear will be a dead givaway.

 

[Turkey22]

definitely challenge, I'm surprised the manager didnt cave and give you the price. BTW it should be the sticker price with 20% off. If they mispriced it thats their fault. And there is definitely no way in hell that they can charge you 119 for it when the original shoulda been 20% off, even if they stuck to the higher price. I worked in retail when I was younger (in MI) and any manager would have given you that lowest price. I'd call corporate you shouldnt have to get hassled like that. If for some whacky reason they refuse them report em to the law, it should be for the priciple of the thing not just the money.

 

[Wduaqnug]

Help@consumerhelpdesk.org[img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img]

 

[Wduaqnug]

Lucky e-mail me I have all the steps

 

[ElFenix]

what a sh!tty store. target it might take 5 minutes because neither the high school dropout cashier or high school dropout manager can do math but they'd see it your way.

 

[Wduaqnug]

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