ConsumerWorld.org ● MASSPIRG ● Massachusetts Consumers’ Coalition

Fact Sheet – H. 4858

An Act Relative to Clear and Conspicuous Price Disclosure

From a Consumer’s Perspective

In short, the bill would allow all stores, including supermarkets, to stop putting price tags or stickers on items ("item pricing") if they install self-service price scanners in some store aisles (possibly every second or third aisle only).  The bill also provides:

· Stores would only have to put a small price label or sign at the point of display of each unmarked item (but unlike the current law, they would not have to make the price big and bold, at least 1" high).

· Sale items would NEITHER have price stickers on the product NOR have to show the sale price at the aisle scanner! Existing scanners would no longer have to print labels.

· Stores with aisle scanners could be inspected no more than once a year in most cases, and fines would go down to just $250 for the first inspection (assessed via a complicated and time-consuming lawsuit), compared to a $2500 maximum weekly fine today issued as parking ticket type violations by inspectors.  We need easy enforcement right in the store where inspectors can levy fines high enough so stores don’t become lax about compliance.

· There are no mandatory periodic inspections of checkout scanners for accuracy, overcharging is no longer a fineable offense in stores with aisle scanners, and warehouse clubs like BJ’s will have no state inspections nor pricing requirements.

What this means for the average shopper:

· It will be harder to find out the price of items; and sale items may not scan the sale price or “card price” at aisle scanners.

· Shopping will take longer if you have to lug a cartful of items to a scanner several aisles over to verify prices.

· Catching overcharges at the register will be harder with no prices on items.

· If a scanner is broken, or price signs are missing or incorrect, the customer has no immediate recourse or rights.

· You will not be able to check your sales receipt at home for overcharges because the items will have no prices on them to compare to.

· Without stronger enforcement and higher fines, compliance will drop, meaning that aisle scanners may not function properly, and price signs could become outdated. (Similar aisle scanners have already been shown to be unreliable in other stores.)

· You will become less price aware without the ability to see what you paid for items in your cupboard.

· In stores that still item price, 1000s of new items will not be required to have prices.

Contact your state representative now and urge him or her to vote “no” on H. 4858.

(Find your state rep: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php or call 1-800-462-VOTE )