Consumer Tip: Scanning Code of Practice
Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP)
Did you know that if a major retailer scans your item for the incorrect price that you may qualify for a discount on that item? Sometimes the store may give the item to you free simply because of the error!
Most major retailers in Canada follow a voluntary rule that’s called the Scanning Code of Practice. According to the retail council, this is their definition:
1.1 On a claim being presented by the customer, where the scanned price of a product at checkout is higher than the price displayed in the store or than advertised by the store, the lower price will be honoured; and
(a) if the correct price of the product is $10 or less, the retailer will give the product to the customer free of charge; or
(b) if the correct price of the product is higher than $10, the retailer will give the customer a discount of $10 off the corrected price.
These are the stores that follow this practice:
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- The Groupe Jean Coutu (NB and Ont only)
- Lawton Drug Stores
- London Drugs
- Lovell Drugs
- Pharma-save (BC and Sask)
- Pharma Plus
- Canada Safeway Limited
- The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company of Canada Limited
- Loblaw Companies Limited
- Sobeys Inc.
- Metro Inc.
- Thrifty Foods
- Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
- Co-op Atlantic
- Federated Co-operatives Limited
- RCC Supporting Companies:
- Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
- The Home Depot Canada
- Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.
- Toys r Us
- Rona
- Wal*Mart Canada Corp.
- Giant Tiger Stores Ltd.
- The North West Company
- Best Buy/Future Shop
- 2 Home Hardware franchisees
- Thrifty Foods
- Overwaitea Food Group
- The Harry Watson Group
- Longos Brothers Fruit Markets
- + 1374 independent locations
So next time you’re shopping at one of the retailers listed above, make sure to watch the check out monitor like a hawk as you may be entitled to a discount if there is an error. Even without the incentive, you should be watching the prices anyways as errors in pricing happen all the time, and usually not in the consumers favour!
From personal experience, I have used the scanning code of practice when buying groceries at Loblaws. Have you used this rule to your advantage? If so, with what store?
29 Comments, Comment or Ping
1. Blair Conrad
I’ve used it a number of times, although sometimes I come away wondering if it was worth my time. Sometimes stores are really good about it, but often I find that I have to explain:
1. What the Scanning Code of Practice is.
2. Yes, I really get the first item free (or for $10 off)
Sometimes when I’m buying multiple items that are affected, I then have to explain that I don’t get _all_ of them free (my conscience wouldn’t let me take them) and a 15 minute math lesson ensues, as I teach people how to multiply and subtract.
May 25th, 2009 @ 8:34 am
2. Novice
Agree with Blair. It works but it takes a lot of work sometimes. If I get a blank stare from the cashier I just say ‘please get a manager’ and then try not to turn around as I feel the daggers from the eyes of the other customers in line stabbing me in the back.
Used at futureshop and bestbuy a lot. A LOT.
May 25th, 2009 @ 10:46 am
3. Kevin
In my quest to be cheap (not easy), I buy things 50% from Loblaws (and Provigo here in Quebec). They have pink triangular stickers that they put on items usually on the sell-by date. Often, though, the cashiers miss the stickers and ring the item in at full price. Quick trip over to customer service and they’ll refund the full purchase price, not just the 50% difference. Nice.
BTW, this is one of the ways my wife and I have found to save money and keep a little “excitement”, if you will, in our kitchen. By going to the grocery store with the goal of finding something for dinner that’s 50% off, you end up getting something you might not have tried before. I’m not a Birkenstock-eating-tree-wearing environmentalist, but I tried the organic free range steaks from Loblaws simply because they were 50% off. They were fantastic…probably the best beef I’ve ever eaten outside of a restaurant. Normally they’re quite pricey, and I doubt I would have tried them had they not been discounted.
May 25th, 2009 @ 11:00 am
4. Kathryn
Yes, but I agree with Blair. If you mention that it was the wrong price they will change it to the correct price. You have to be the one to bring it up. “Doesn’t your store have the scanning code of of practice?” At that point, in my case, they’ve followed through. I’ve never heard of them using it of their own initiative. So be sure to bring it up.
Great to have an extensive list of stores that have this practice! I only knew about Walmart and Loblaws.
May 25th, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
5. Canadian Finance
It is a hassle, on top of having to mention it and explain it, I normally have to go stand in the customer service line to get my money… that said, I still do it anyways!
May 25th, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
6. Mark
For all its many “have nots” I have to hand it to Quebec on this one; not only is it common practice – it’s the law.
The scanning code of practice mentioned is pretty much what the law states here as per consumer protection.
And whereas Novice mentions he receives “daggers” in his back, most people following me in line tend to take a closer look at the price scanned :)
Thanks for bringing it up; since we’re moving to Ontario next month, my wife & I will deffinitely need to keep a closer eye on this!
May 25th, 2009 @ 1:40 pm
7. Cam Birch
I never knew Costco had this policy, I have certainly never noticed any signs. There are several items that I would have gotten at a bigger discount had I known.
I have taken advantage of this system at Loblaws several times. Usually when a meat item goes on sale they forget to relabel their meat packages with the new price. This means remembering to go to customer service to ensure you get the $10 or free but I’ve purchased some expensive and completely incorrectly labeled meats before and loved the discounts.
Most of the time the customer service people fix the problem from happening to other customers quite quickly. At a cost to the store of $10 I expect that its actually cheaper than doing the work correctly in the first place. Its annoying that I have to help them do their own jobs but with a discount I guess I’ll continue.
May 25th, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
8. Kyle
I was just in a store the other day that definitely avoids having to follow the scanning code of practices wherever possible by not putting prices on anything. They had nothing but SKU’s on most of their products because they’ve been adjusting their prices so frequently. If you are lucky enough to find a product with a price tag on it, it’s almost guaranteed that the item will ring in differently than their catalogue price or the price their sales staff tell you. If you argue about it enough, they’ll usually give it to you at the price tag price, but not always.
It was such a frustrating experience to try and shop there that I left without purchasing many items I had planned to. This store is for outdoor goods for camping and fishing, etc. so I don’t need to shop there frequently and I’m now looking for other alternatives.
May 25th, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
9. casey5
I have used it at Loblaws, Wal Mart, Price Chopper and No Frills. 9 out of 10 times, the cashier doesn’t know the procedure. The experience at Wal Mart was the worst. The cashier refused to call her supervisor, believing she was right, and even the supervisor had to explain to her, in front of all customers, how the practice works. And she still argued with the latter for 5 minutes.
It pays to have good memory!
May 25th, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
10. Four Pillars
I honestly can’t see this being worth the time and hassle. I don’t mind telling the cashier that the can of beans should be $1.59 instead of $1.99 but am I going go through a lot of hassle to get that free $1.59 can of beans?
Not a chance.
May 25th, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
11. Caitlin
I’ve found what happens more often than not is when you mention to the cashier that an item rang up incorrectly, 9 times out of 10 their first instinct is to just refund the original price and re-ring it at the proper price. The Scanning Code gets used so infrequently (because your Average Joe either doesn’t know it exists or just forgets about it) that even if the cashier had been trained on it when they were hired (it was probably only touched on briefly), if they have never actually done it before they are not likely to remember what they are supposed to do.
If this happens, just keep calm. They are not trying to rip you off or “punish” you by making you wait while someone checks the sign on the shelf. Keep in mind that, to be honest, people try to rip them off every day, and a good cashier learns to be wary of customers complaining about being charged incorrectly. I was a cashier for 5 years, and over 70% of “incorrect scanning” cases were due to a customer misreading a price sign (eg the Brand X was on sale but the customer grabbed Brand Y instead, or the sale sign said it was for the 750g box but the customer grabbed the 1.5kg box). The other 30% were brought to the attention of the store manager and properly dealt with.
If you come across a cashier who doesn’t know what to do for the Scanning Code, talk to the manager even if you get it corrected properly with the cashier. It’s possible they will have do some re-training on the Code to make sure all their cashiers are aware of the practise. If you don’t speak up, the manager might not know that the cashiers do not know the proper procedure.
In the case of the argumentative WalMart cashier above… well, she was either poorly trained or just plain ignored the training, and needed that wake-up call! Hopefully she’ll remember (and be much more polite) in the future.
May 25th, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
12. Sampson
Hey FT,
You’re streaming online!! congrats on the interview!
http://events.insinc.com/questrade/20090525/player.php?test=1#
May 25th, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
13. cannon_fodder
I’d agree that you have to mention SCOP as no one from the store is going to volunteer on your behalf. I’m not sure how, but I can remember pretty much every price of every item I put in the shopping cart when I grocery shop and I always watch the monitor. Thank goodness most of the grocery stores are modern and they have PC-like displays where you can see the last several items.
On a bit of a side note – I was at Real Canadian Super Store on Friday and they ran out of the 400g box of cereal I wanted. The young woman who was putting product away checked with her manager and confirmed none in the back. I noticed that they had an 800g box of the same cereal so I asked if it would be possible to pay 2x the sale price on the 400g and she said sure.
I love it when a plan comes together.
May 25th, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
14. Audree
i know someone in QC who switched prices to make sure she would get her lasagna for free. Seriously.
May 25th, 2009 @ 9:47 pm
15. FrugalTrader
If the cashier makes the scanning mistake, we simply complete the checkout with the wrong price, and bring the receipt to customer service. They’re the ones who usually take care of the refund.
May 26th, 2009 @ 12:48 am
16. Stephen
Remember everyone, the SCOP only applies if the item rings up at a higher price at the cash register. If the item actually rings up for cheaper then you aren’t supposed to get any discount because you are making out better than your originally thought. At least one poster seemed to indicate that they asked for a discount even if the price error was already in their favour.
It used to be that it was only applicable to “non price ticketed items” as well in that if the item had a price actually stuck on it (instead of just on the shelf) then you would get the lower of the ticketed price or the scanned price but no further discount. Don’t know if this is still the case or not. It isn’t mentioned in the block quoted text above but I’m pretty sure I’ve read it on the SCOP site before and on various signs found in store.
I’ve used SCOP at Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart … possibly Walmart as well (can’t remember).
May 26th, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
17. Alex.
Home Depot is a shop I really love the “Scanning Code of Practice” and where it really works well.
Most of the time the employees don’t know about it, but they listen! :)
My wife spotted blinds, which were reduced to 18$ from 69$. Well, the cashier did not have the right price in the system and I showed her a picture I took with my cell and we got it for 8$.
May 27th, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
18. CD Rates Guy
Wow, first time I’ve ever heard of this! In America, it’s hard enough to get people to price match even when they advertise it let alone get an item for free.
May 27th, 2009 @ 7:48 pm
19. laketown
I have used at Superstore a few times with no problem. Walmart with some explaining. Note, Zellers does not honour SCOP :(
May 27th, 2009 @ 11:54 pm
20. Robert
Shopper’s Drug Mart most recently and Real Canadian Stupidstore all the time. Sobey’s too. At SDM I almost messed myself up as I was willing to settle for the correct price, and not a free frozen pizza. But they refused even that, so I wrote the manager a letter and during that process I remembered the SCOP. I even looked it up and quoted the section to him. I got my free pizza, eventually.
I am often tempted on a large shopping trip to take a pen or pencil and scribble the shelf price or displayed price on each item as I put it in the basket.
Many (most?) of the items I get on this deal are where sale prices were advertised on shelf, and never taken down after the sale. I got a couple of boxes of ceral at Sobey’s once, the “sale” sticker was over a week out of date … it was taken down when the manager checked the shelf price, but I got no argument.
May 28th, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
21. Sampson
I didn’t know it at the time, but one Sobey’s Manager actually invoked the SCOP for me. They had left the sale display out by accident so I just wanted clarification on the pricing, when the Manager came back after checking, he gave me the item for FREE!!!
Good man.
My wife and I are hawks when it comes to checking pricing, and do it as the cashier scans the item so we don’t have to wait in the customer service line and get them to fix it at the til.
May 28th, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
22. Canadian Finance
I normally shop at Sobeys and most of my items are from the weekly flyer. I write down the things to get, plus the price in the flyer. So it’s easy to keep my eye on the price on the till display and on my grocery list.
May 29th, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
23. Debbi W
I had this experience at Canadian Tire last week. An item displayed at $14.99 scanned at $17.99. The cashier didn’t know what to do, so I paid and then took the receipt and item to Customer Service. The cashier there had someone check the display price, and then told me she’d refund me and then ring up the item at $14.99. I refused and asked for a copy of their SCOP in writing, to confirm that this is the correct procedure. There is definitely some staff training required – it seemed she had no idea what the SCOP was! She ended up calling her manager (who also seemed clueless), and eventually found a sticker near the main cashiers – CT’s policy is actually to give $10 off the DISPLAYED price (not the corrected price), so in the end I paid $4.99.
May 31st, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
24. skip
“CT’s policy is actually to give $10 off the DISPLAYED price (not the corrected price),”
ALL stores abiding by the SCOP must take the $10 ff the correct price, which is the incorrectly displayed lower price
Jun 1st, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
25. Robert
As a follow up, I was in Canadian Tire on Thursday and purchased a $15 air filter than scanned at $16. The cashier on the self-checkout knew all about the SCOP and was very fast in giving me the item for $5. I was pleased to see that each checkout at my store has a statement of the SCOP on it. I am sure not many people read it, though…
Seems it depends on who you get. Be firm and polite and refuse to give in!
Jun 1st, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
26. Ms Save Money
This is pretty cool. I live in Southern California and a few years back I was at Albertsons – bought a really big tray of strawberries for my class since we had a pot luck for the end of the semester. I don’t remember how much it cost but I think it was around $19. Anyhow, it was miss labeled and I got it for free. :)
Jun 12th, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
27. Chris Frame
Home Depot :Big Disappointment
I just left a Home Depot where one of the items I purchased rang up 3.99 instead of 3.84.I was buying 10 of them. I mentioned it to the cashier who said she would ring it in for the correct price, I mentioned SCOP and she said she did not know anything about that, I would have to go to the “Customer Service” desk. The clerk at customer service said she had never heard of SCOP and offered me the product for the self price, I asked to speak to the manager. The manager came over and said “The Home Depot no longer supports SCOP, we got a very large memo saying we were no longer to give the product for free”. I said what is to protect me the customer when your staff forget to change prices and I pay more than I should. THE MANAGER SAID ” you can’t expect us to change all the prices on the shelf when the prices change in the computer, can you” In disbelief, I asked for my money back and went next store to WalMart and bought the product for for $0.22 cheaper. No more Home Depot for me.
Aug 1st, 2009 @ 11:19 pm
28. Lc
to the people that think “it’s not worth the time and hassle…..” . This practice is to keep retailers in line. If more people would watch the prices as well as refuse to give in to convenience pricing (purchase the overpriced item just because they are too lazy to chose something else), retailers would have to be more competative.
Oct 5th, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
29. carol iwasaki
whole foods, cambie, vancouver does not subscribe to the code notwithstanding their statement of “core values”
Feb 15th, 2010 @ 9:36 pm
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