Wal-Mart Stores in New Haven and Shelton Violated Ct Pricing Laws

By Press Release | Last updated Apr 23, 2010, 12:22 pm

HARTFORD, April 23 — Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr., announced today that his agency is charging Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., with pricing violations. Wal-Mart store #5439 in New Haven and Shelton Wal-mart #2163 were both inspected by Consumer Protection agents in recent months as part of the agency’s economic compliance checks. Both stores are alleged to have been in violation of unit pricing laws during the inspections.

“Although we notified these two Wal-Mart Stores about the pricing violations found in the first inspections, when our agents revisited the stores in question four months later, they again found more items in violation,” Farrell said. “Connecticut’s unit pricing laws are designed to uphold a fundamental marketplace principle – that consumers can make informed purchasing decisions based on cost, quality and convenience. We expect stores to be fully compliant with the law – particularly when for most consumers, every penny counts.”

During the November 2009 inspection of Wal-Mart #2163 at Bridgeport Avenue, Shelton, a Department of Consumer Protection inspector checked 25 consumer commodities and reviewed them for appropriate price labeling; 12 of these were incorrectly unit priced. After notifying the store of its infractions and requesting corrective action, a Department agent again visited the Shelton store in March 2010 and of 50 items checked, found 15 items not in compliance with State laws. Examples include: potato chips, fruit juice, oatmeal and butter.

During the December 2009 store inspection of Wal-Mart # 5439 on Foxon Boulevard in New Haven, an agency inspector checked 50 consumer commodities and reviewed them for appropriate price labeling; 9 were found to be incorrectly unit priced. After notifying the store of its infractions and requesting corrective action, a Department agent again visited the New Haven Wal-Mart store in April and of 50 items inspected, found 17 of them not in compliance with State labeling laws.

A consumer commodity is defined as a food, drug, device, cosmetic or other item produced for and used by consumers, and which is usually consumed or expended over time. For example, a tube of toothpaste, a carton of milk, a can of soup and the items noted above, each qualify as a consumer commodity. Unit pricing is designed to allow consumers to compare the price of an item by some standard measure, such as weight or volume, so the consumer can easily ascertain which product and/or size of product is more economical. Unit pricing information may be found on either the item or the shelf tag. (See photo below).

The Department may impose civil penalties for each violation of the pricing law. The stores have been notified of a hearing that is scheduled for May 31, 2010 at the Department of Consumer Protection in Hartford if the matter is not resolved beforehand.