The Pittsburgh-area consumer advocate made a successful case against the retail behemoth.
By Karen Datko on Mon, Oct 3, 2011 5:32 PM
Mary Bach bought a package of Banquet Brown 'N Serve sausage labeled 98 cents at the freezer case. But it rang up for 2 cents more. When she pointed out the discrepancy, the cashier gave her the lower price.
Six days later, it happened again. This time, Bach took Wal-Mart to court -- and won. Post continues after video.
"Murrysville District Judge Charles Conway sided with Bach in her civil lawsuit alleging unfair trade practices. He awarded Bach $100 in damages, plus about $80 in court costs," the Tribune-Review reported.
The retail behemoth argued that Banquet had just changed the package and the UPC, so the old ones were ringing up for 98 cents and the new packages cost a buck. Both the old and new were still being sold by the store.
Wal-Mart also argued that Bach, a consumer advocate, was just looking for another excuse to sue the Delmont, Pa., store (where, we suspect, employees cringe when she walks through the door). She's sued that Pittsburgh area store four times before over similar allegations. (You can read about some of her previous legal battles here,here and here. She has also successfully sued Kmart and other retailers, but lost a case over how Wal-Mart charges sales tax on items discounted with a coupon.)
Bach says it's the principle: Wal-Mart should make sure it doesn't charge more than the advertised price. (The $100 award plus court costs is the minimum allowed under Pennsylvania law for such cases.)
To some, Bach is a hero. Posted reader "Kevin Hooper" at The Huffington Post:
Do you people not realize how much overcharging a few cents per transaction costs us? Take a behemoth like Wal-Mart, even if they only overcharge 10% of the time it would mean tens of millions in overpayment.
Said a reader at WeUseCoupons.com, "Well, good for her. I don't have the time for it nor the inclination but she has picked up the gauntlet for the little person and is waving it at Walmart."
Some think her efforts are misguided at best. "What a waste of time," commented "Dan Doyle" at HuffPost. "Maybe she should sue the government for wasting her money instead and make a significant point."
Wrote "disgusted!" at lehighvalleylive.com: "Really? With everything that's going on in the world she's whining over 2 freaking cents!"
Still, there's something everyone should learn from this: Always check your receipt and do it before you leave the store. The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs has other tips:
By Karen Datko on Mon, Oct 3, 2011 5:32 PM
Mary Bach bought a package of Banquet Brown 'N Serve sausage labeled 98 cents at the freezer case. But it rang up for 2 cents more. When she pointed out the discrepancy, the cashier gave her the lower price.
Six days later, it happened again. This time, Bach took Wal-Mart to court -- and won. Post continues after video.
"Murrysville District Judge Charles Conway sided with Bach in her civil lawsuit alleging unfair trade practices. He awarded Bach $100 in damages, plus about $80 in court costs," the Tribune-Review reported.
The retail behemoth argued that Banquet had just changed the package and the UPC, so the old ones were ringing up for 98 cents and the new packages cost a buck. Both the old and new were still being sold by the store.
Wal-Mart also argued that Bach, a consumer advocate, was just looking for another excuse to sue the Delmont, Pa., store (where, we suspect, employees cringe when she walks through the door). She's sued that Pittsburgh area store four times before over similar allegations. (You can read about some of her previous legal battles here,here and here. She has also successfully sued Kmart and other retailers, but lost a case over how Wal-Mart charges sales tax on items discounted with a coupon.)
Bach says it's the principle: Wal-Mart should make sure it doesn't charge more than the advertised price. (The $100 award plus court costs is the minimum allowed under Pennsylvania law for such cases.)
To some, Bach is a hero. Posted reader "Kevin Hooper" at The Huffington Post:
Do you people not realize how much overcharging a few cents per transaction costs us? Take a behemoth like Wal-Mart, even if they only overcharge 10% of the time it would mean tens of millions in overpayment.
Said a reader at WeUseCoupons.com, "Well, good for her. I don't have the time for it nor the inclination but she has picked up the gauntlet for the little person and is waving it at Walmart."
Some think her efforts are misguided at best. "What a waste of time," commented "Dan Doyle" at HuffPost. "Maybe she should sue the government for wasting her money instead and make a significant point."
Wrote "disgusted!" at lehighvalleylive.com: "Really? With everything that's going on in the world she's whining over 2 freaking cents!"
Still, there's something everyone should learn from this: Always check your receipt and do it before you leave the store. The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs has other tips:
- Pay attention to the cash register display to be sure you are charged the correct price.
- Immediately point out overcharges to the cashier.
- Ask about the store's policy on overcharges. If you are overcharged, some stores will give you the item free or offer a discount.
But don't worry about undercharges. It's not OK for the store to rip you off but if you want to rip off the store go right ahead. 
