Scanner Errors and the Weighed Coffee
A warehouse auction uses a point-of-sale scanner at checkout. A shelf sign for flashlights says "$7.99 each," but the scanner rings $9.99. A case of 24 batteries has a sign reading "3 for $10.00"; the scanner charges $4.29 per battery. A bag of coffee beans is advertised at $12.00 per pound. The scale reads 1.4 pounds, but the invoice states 1.5 pounds; the scale's last calibration sticker is worn and unreadable. The auctioneer's policy is "all sales final - scanner is a convenience, not the price." A customer demands the lower prices and a correction of the coffee weight. The cashier says the scanner file was updated yesterday and the shelf signs may be old.
1. What price should the customer pay for the flashlights and batteries, and does "all sales final" change the analysis?
Read the worked answer
The displayed price is the price the buyer is entitled to rely on. For the flashlights, the shelf sign says $7.99 each, so charging $9.99 because of an internal scanner file is a price-accuracy violation unless the higher price was clearly posted and the customer was warned before purchase. For the batteries, the 3-for-$10 offer produces $10.00 ÷ 3 = about $3.333 per battery, or $80.00 for 24 batteries. Charging $4.29 each produces $102.96 and ignores the multi-buy. The lower advertised price should be honored, and the scanner file and shelf signs must be reconciled. "All sales final" addresses returns, not the accuracy of the price charged. A final-sale policy cannot convert an overcharge into a lawful price. The cashier's explanation that the file was updated yesterday may explain the error but does not cure it.
2. How should the coffee transaction be recalculated, and what weights-and-measures issues does the scale raise?
Read the worked answer
The coffee is priced by weight, so the invoice must use the actual net weight on a legal-for-trade scale. At $12.00 per pound, 1.4 pounds is $16.80, while 1.5 pounds is $18.00, an overcharge of $1.20 if 1.4 pounds is correct. The bag or container must be tared if it was included in the weight. The scale's unreadable calibration sticker is a serious issue: a device used to determine price must be tested, sealed, and maintained in approved condition. The auction should remove the scale from service until it is verified, reweigh the coffee on an approved scale, and refund the difference. The customer should receive a clear weight record showing gross weight, tare, and net weight so the calculation can be checked.
3. What systemic fixes and records should the auction house put in place after these complaints?
Read the worked answer
The auction house should reconcile shelf signs and the scanner file before each sale, designate an employee to verify a sample of prices at checkout, and establish a written policy that the lower of the posted price or scanned price is honored when there is a conflict. Multi-buy offers should be programmed correctly and tested with representative quantities such as 3, 12, and 24 units. For weighed goods, the house should use only approved scales, document zero and tare checks, and retain weight records for each transaction. It should train cashiers to correct errors immediately rather than rely on "all sales final." Complaint logs should record the item, posted price, charged price, weight, and resolution. These records matter both for customer refunds and for demonstrating good-faith compliance if the Division of Standards investigates.