Mastodawn

Kroger stores in multiple states have overcharged customers by listing expired sale tags and then ringing up regular prices – a practice that adds extra burdens on struggling US families. Workers and union officials say the company’s chronic understaffing is driving the problem.

This comes according to reporting done by the Guardian US, Consumer Reports and the Food & Environment Reporting Network.

Watch your wallets.

JumpinRudy May 17, 2025

@rbreich This happens ALL THE TIME. I insist on paying the posted price. I'm sure I miss some, but it pays to be vigilant.

Awk & sha May 17, 2025

@rbreich we started looking for alternatives to Kroger-owned stores (two separate branded chains!) in our area after they announced the automated-price-gouging e-ink price tag displays, but we have not found one we like. 😞

Robin Barton May 17, 2025

@rbreich This is called food deserts where limited choice leads to corruption and poor selection of healthy food

Pomegranate Pirate 🏳️‍🌈🏴‍☠️May 17, 2025

@rbreich I think many stores do this, and by the time you are at check out, and not paying attention, it’s too late.

Frank J May 17, 2025

@rbreich my biggest concern is that the state AGs in red states are not going to protect their citizens from this obvious problem

`Da Elf May 17, 2025

@rbreich Glad I'm back in Cal.

* California Civil Code § 7100
In California, grocery stores are legally required to display a clearly readable price on 85% of packaged consumer commodities. This means the price shown must be the full price a customer will pay, including all mandatory fees, except for certain government taxes and shipping costs. Additionally, stores must honor the lowest advertised or posted price, even if it's a mistake.

Nicole Parsons May 17, 2025

Since there's no inspectors anymore...

Walmart has adopted the practice of advertising items such as 10 lbs of chicken for $14 dollars. Greedflation.

Once weighed, there's only 8 lbs in the package

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-29/walmart-files-show-wrong-prices-charged-at-1-600-stores-for-days

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/19/walmart-shoppers-could-claim-up-to-500-dollars-in-class-action-lawsuit.html

Most stores no longer have weigh scales to verify weight

Canned fruit; mostly water. Packaging; mostly air. Condensed soups; corn starch

The size of cans, containers, & packages continues to shrink while prices increase. Shrinkflation

Dan Riley May 17, 2025

@rbreich the local Tops does this a lot, though they will at least honor the posted price. They could partially mitigate the problem by printing the expiration date on the sales tags, but for some reason they won’t. Even better would be to require a scan of the removed tag in order to end the discount.

Vassil Nikolov | Васил Николов May 17, 2025

Yes, monopolies are BAD, oligopolies nearly as bad.
It is a major duty of the state to prevent monopolies.

By the way, the absolute monopoly of a state-owned economy was one of the things that ruined Soviet-style socialism (I lived through that).

MemphisDaPlaya 🎲🎲May 17, 2025

They may be doing that on purpose. Walmart does the same.

Mad Dog Ace Run May 17, 2025

@rbreich
This is exactly why I use the self checkout and pay attention to prices as they ring up. Kroger will always fix it if there is a discrepancy.

@rbreich Hy-Vee does it too. I’ve left products with the checker because I noticed, complained, and they wouldn’t honor the sign, so I told them to stick it.

brainwise May 17, 2025

@rbreich If I recall correctly, there were at least four grocery stores, all medium to large, in my small hometown when I was growing up. Now, all they have is a specialty grocer and a Walmart Supercenter.

T2R May 17, 2025

@rbreich this is why I switched stores.

Bc Clarity Carlton-Martin May 19, 2025

@rbreich Walmart does the same thing