But how would they achieve it though? You scan the item and the computer adds it up. You would have to program it into the computer to do that. That would mean that they would have to be in collusion with the supplier of the scanning equipment. I think we are getting to the Conspiracy Zone here.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Relatively easy to determine.

If you took an average of the errors and the net is close to zero, there's no conspiracy.

If you took an average of the errors and the net result was always in favor of the merchant, there might be something to the suggestion...........

But how would that be achieved? If I noticed a $10 discrepancy in my favor, would I go tell the cashier "Hey, you should have charged me $10 instead of $5."? Chances are that people will keep quiet and pocket the change. OTOH, if they are at a loss, they will holler and scream.

I think auditing the software will be easier since people are not honest. Lets look at it this way.

Scenario 1: I am overcharged I will go to customer service and get my money back and complain to some department for investigation.

Scenario 2: I am overcharged I will go to customer service and get my money back.

Scenario 3: I am undercharged. I go back and give them the money they are due and tell some department so they investigate.

Scenario 4: I am undercharged. I go back and give them the money they are due.

Which is the most likely to occur, in your opinion? Here is how I would rank them, from most likely to least likely. 2, 1, 3, 4. So, if I am right, how would you get an accurate figure?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

You're right.

There is really no good way to audit the errors, unless you use a sample of one person........yourself..........and/or possibly a trusted friend (yes, I know...........none of those available........ ).

Much easier to audit the software.

Well, I haven't ever complained to any department either way. If the discrepancy is in my favor, I keep it. If it isn't I go get my money back.

That would be the wife and we do the same thing. In our opinion, it has been a wash. She is the one that scrutinizes the ticket for shopping and I do the other big ticket items. We find it about a wash. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Never seems enough to make it notable.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

How so?

Think the merchant is going to let Lim and company stomp on in there and go through every price in the machine??

I would imagine that if they have too many complains, somebody will be sent to audit their software, don't you? They have been slapped with a fine for pricing discrepancies along with other companies. I would think that if it occurs one time too many, some department will get involved and they will be ordered to surrender the source code. Hell, if they can break up ATT and investigate Microsoft to the point of dredging their emails, I would think if their overpricing went too far, somebody would be dispatched.

Now, if they didn't update the pricing correctly, that might be a different issue. When you are dealing with thousands of items, it can happen. However, do you think it shows a pattern? IOW, do you think that they are purposely not updating their pricing info?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Who would be sent? Someone from the government? Who would that be?

While nothing is impossible, I find it highly unlikely.

http://walmartwatch.com/battlemart/archives/milwaukee_wi_wal_mart_fined_for_overcharging_its_customers/

Now granted that we have to give them some leeway because of the volume of merchandise and the large number of merchandise, should they keep it up, don't you think that some official will want to use it to secure his election and get involved?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Totally different scenario. That's a clear violation of weights and measures and the government has plenty of people to enforce those statutes.

You're talking about the potential for outright fraud..........and you'd need a class action lawsuit to get that going.

But you don't think that if too many people get bit by inaccurate pricing, somebody won't launch an investigation and get a court order to audit their equipment? Now, if I keep getting bit by it, sooner or later, I will complain. Come election year, somebody will try be the good guy and do something about it or at least, so goes my theory.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

There's no mechanism for that. You'd need to initiate a class action lawsuit. The only data you have is your own data. What did they rip you off for..........$2.20??? Yes, you can file a lawsuit for that amount.........that's it.

I don't shop at WalMart because it depresses me. Every time I went to one, I would see poor people (of all races) spending money they didn't have on TVs, ect... that had a big sale sign on them that just had the 'can't pass up' look. Then you go into the parking lot and see them loading the loot into a windowless vehicle's trunk that has four different wheels on it and the lock punched out of the trunk, freakin cur dog on the front seat....

btw, next to USAA, Wal-Mart is one of the most aggressive entities I know in the defending of lawsuits. They skimp on a lot of things, but spare no expense in the defense of ANY lawsuit no matter the merit. I only know of one guy in my State that they will settle with prior to suit, and he just flat out killed them and they tried to retain him so he wouldn't sue them anymore and he refused $300K a year for doing nothing. Brass balls.

WalMart doesn't have the lock on that story. K-Mart, Target, and all the discount retailers are in the same boat. Wal-Mart is just the spokesperson............