The person in the checkout ahead on me last weekend had their loo paper scan at the wrong price. All 6 packets. She challenged the checkout operator asking for the items for free but was told the scanning code doesn't apply because she was yet to actually pay for the item.
Now the scanning policy is not exactly my area of expertise, but I thought the customer was in the right. Customer didn't challenge it through.
The scanning code of practice states that if the item
scans at higher price than the shelf price then that items will be free. In the case of multiple items then the first items will be free of charge and the subsequent items will be charged at the lower price.
It does not state that you have paid just that it has SCANNED at a higher price.
Sometimes they'll go for what the shelf price is.
Shelf price is either the lowest of the advertised (catalogue), ticketed on the shelf or discounted (sticker) price. Just because an item may be marked down individually it is the operator's responsibility to ensure they scan the correct bar code. It is not the customer's responsibility.
BTW -
every WoW & Coles store that has been refurbed since late 2013 seems to have lost the scanning code of practice sticker once refurbed. I queried one WoW regional manager and he admitted
they had taken a decision not to replace them as "They often peeled slightly and looked tacky."
HMMM.
So - if in a hurry. Pay and then go to the service desk.
If not in so much of a hurry - get ready for a discussion.
+ves of paying first:
- Generally not such long arguments at service desk (as check out staff are anxious to protect themselves especially if did not scan mark down bar code)
- If use a discounted gift card then you gain another 5% or more when the refund is given as cannot reverse a Gift card deduction
- You do not get irate other customers in queue behind you threatening bodily dismemberment (rip your arms off you %$^$!)
- ves:
- Most customers are apathetic and will walk away - so shop makes at many customers' expense.
- Teaches noxious check out operators (not that many but have come across some award winning ones) a good lesson.
Happiest scanning outing:
7+ kg leg of Pork (on special that week not remarked) (catalogue & shelf ticket showed $6.99/kg but the label on the piece was still at $10.99)
8 or 9 different variety bags of chocolate specialities (put on a large display directly in front of checkout with 5 or 6 "Half Price" signs on it but no price shown. Turned out they had not removed the signs from the previous week's display. As I hadn't seen them in the catalogue on the way in I suspected as much)
A couple of large frozen catering/party packs (1.5kg and more) - weekly special (
was actually token purchase that I did not expect to get for free!)
And a couple of other items I'd spotted on my 8 minute perimeter shopping visit.
All up is was well over $120 if it had been priced correctly, can't remember how much exactly the over-charging was but it was close to 60% more.
However
They discussed it with me for nearly 25 minutes before paying up (in cash not a new gift card). Took the store manager coming down (I asked for him once it got to 15 minutes).
Yes, coincidentally we did have a kid's birthday party coming up but we had not planned to give out 90%+ chocolate lolly bags.
