FEWER PRODUCTS SCAN AT INCORRECT PRICES

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech today revealed positive results for Queensland in a national survey of retail scanners.

Mrs Keech said Queensland inspectors checked the accuracy of computerised pricing systems during March this year as part of a national price scanning survey where each state audited up to 20 retail outlets.

“Queensland broadened the survey sample, conducting inspections at 90 stores and comparing the scanner price with the shelf price for more than 3500 individual items,” she said.

“During the Queensland survey, 95.3 per cent of items scanned at the correct price, compared with 94 per cent in 2006.

“While some inaccuracies left customers worse off, more inaccuracies were actually in the buyer’s favour.

“Of the 4.7 per cent of items that scanned incorrectly, 2.6 per cent were undercharged and 2.1 per cent overcharged.”

Mrs Keech said while the overall results were positive she was concerned by the number of stores returning at least one inaccurate price during the survey.

“Of the 90 Queensland stores we audited, 65 per cent had at least one item which was inaccurate,” she said.

“These stores clearly have more work to do in managing their electronic scanning processes.

“Most retailers now use computerised scanners at the checkouts, and customers depend on the accuracy of scanners to charge them the correct price for each item.”

Queensland’s trade measurement inspectors conduct random audits throughout the year to monitor computerised pricing systems and ensure retailers are complying with the Fair Trading Act 1989.

“Queensland service stations and pharmacies had the largest number of overcharges in the survey, with three per cent of articles scanning at higher prices,” Mrs Keech said.

“In the worst case, a bottle of perfume scanned for $100 more than the item’s shelf price.”

The Office of Fair Trading has conducted follow up visits to monitor 32 of the stores that overcharged during the survey. Of these, 13 stores were found to be still overcharging and the Office of Fair Trading is now taking enforcement action.

The survey was part of the fourth annual survey of electronic scanners, coordinated by South Australia’s Office of Consumer and Business Affairs.

“The national survey audited 159 traders, with 108 found to be charging an incorrect price for the article being purchased,” Mrs Keech said.

Mrs Keech said warned customers to watch carefully when their items were scanned at the checkout, and question any prices that appeared to be incorrect.

“Keep your eyes on the scanner, check your dockets and if you find a problem, talk to the store,” she said.

“If the store operates under the voluntary Code of Practice for Computerised Systems in Supermarkets, you may even be entitled to receive an incorrectly scanned product for free.

“If you can’t resolve the problem with the store, contact the Office of Fair Trading at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.”

Media Contact: Jo Gibbons 3225 1005 or 0421 611 989

Tim Goodwin (OFT) 3119 0062