I recently went to buy plants at a Home Depot store, which had a sign reading, “4 PLANTS FOR $12.” I picked 12 plants and when I went to the register, I told the cashier these are four for $12. When he scanned it, the price was $3.78 each. He asked me where I had seen the price and I told him there was a sign. The cashier came out with me to check the price and saw it himself. He told me the sale was for Memorial Day and it was over, moreover the plants are sold by another vendor and Home Depot could not change the price. He asked me what I wanted to do. Since I had spent my time picking the plants, I chose to keep it, paying the higher price.
Later, I went to shop at a Century 21 store and bought some items, including a handbag which was priced at $32.99. When the cashier scanned it, it scanned $36.99. I told her the price listed was $32.99. She had to call in a supervisor to change the price.
Inconsistencies in how items are priced and rung up at the register happen often. This is one of the reasons consumers like to order online, as the price listed and the actual price is the same. There may be additional shipping and delivery charges that add to the price, but the original price remains the same. I would like consumers to be aware of what they are getting into while shopping and have an estimate of the cost of their purchase before getting to the cashier, so you get what you pay for at all times.
—Jessie Abraham
