The industry is working to eliminate the problem with technologies that change prices on shelf tags and scanners at the same time. In another solution, employees use portable computers to print out new shelf labels in the aisles. Many supermarkets are upgrading management controls, such as conducting frequent shelf price accuracy audits and assigning employees to monitor price changes full-time. In addition, weights and measures officials are stepping up enforcement of laws that penalize retailers for overcharges. The most common ones are discrepancies between the prices charged at the register and those posted on the shelf, resulting in either an undercharge or overcharge for the consumer.
Overcharges erode customer loyalty, and undercharges cost the industry.
Supermarkets are striving to achieve 100 percent pricing accuracy. This practice helps ensure that any errors will favor the customer. It's difficult to estimate. Numerous studies have yielded widely varying results. Much of the data is not reliable because many of the studies did not use scientifically sound methodologies.