When consumers pay for merchandise, it is important to trust that the item being scanned is the correct price. The Weights and Measures Program within the Population Health Division ensures the accuracy of merchandise pricing when businesses use price verification machines (also known as “point of sale machines” or “scanner guns”). By assuring that consumers and businesses conduct their commerce on a level playing field, consumers can shop with confidence.

Performance measure: Increase percent of businesses that pass price verification inspection

Where we started: Approximately 90% of the businesses inspected have accurate pricing devices

Where we're going: Increase to 95% the number of inspected businesses that pass inspection (internal standard).

What's happening now: The overall number of inspections needed will fluctuate depending on the economy and businesses open and close without a reporting system that identifies this activity to our program. As a result, the number of inspections required is not constant.

What we propose to do to improve:

The Weights and Measures Program will promote and increase awareness of our work to community organizations, schools, and chambers of commerce so that consumers can help report pricing issues. This will be an additional mechanism to identify businesses that need to be inspected.

Lead: Cree Morgan

Data: Carmen Kern

Last updated: 2017-08-10