Price overcharges
The shelf said one price. The register charged more.
There’s no “close enough” on price. Under NIST Handbook 130, the posted price is the price. In three states the store owes you more than the difference.
Check a receipt now →Michigan
Michigan Scanner Law (MCL 445.903)The store refunds the difference plus a bonus of 10 times the overcharge, at least $1 and at most $5.
Shelf $3.48, charged $3.98: you get the 50¢ back plus a $5 bonus.
- Tell the store within 30 days, in person or in writing. Bring the receipt.
- The store has 2 days to pay. If it doesn't, the law lets you sue for your actual loss or $250, whichever is more.
- Some items and situations are excluded. Check the official source.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts item pricing rules (202 CMR 7.07)You pay the lowest price shown on the shelf, sticker, or sign. If that price is $10 or less, the first item is free. If it's more than $10, you get $10 off the first item.
Shelf $4.99, charged $5.49: the item is free.
- Covers food and grocery-type goods: pet supplies, paper goods, soap, cleaners, laundry products, light bulbs.
- Tell the store at the register or customer service. It fills out a price accuracy report.
Connecticut
Connecticut General Statutes § 21a-79If an item rings up higher than the posted price, you get one of it free, up to a value of $20.
Shelf $6.99, charged $7.49: the item is free.
- Point out the error and ask for the free item.
- Some product types and store situations may be exempt. Check the official source.
You’re still owed the difference
Most states have no bonus law, but charging more than the posted price is still a weights and measures problem, and stores refund it at customer service. Some states, like New York and California, can fine the store after an inspection, though that money goes to the state, not you.
If a store won’t fix it, your state weights and measures office is who checks price accuracy. Find your state office.
Digital shelf tags can change during the day
Walmart has said digital shelf labels will be in every US store by the end of 2026. A digital tag can show a new price after you walk away, so by the time you get to customer service the shelf may not match what you saw. A photo taken in the aisle, with its time stamp, settles it.
- 1. Snap the tag when the item goes in your cart.
- 2. Snap the receipt before you leave the store.
- 3. Let Checkout Cop match them and tell you what you’re owed.
Rules researched September 2026 from the official sources linked above. Laws change; check the source before relying on a figure. This page is general information, not legal advice.