People expect to pay high prices when they shop at Whole Foods. What they don't expect is for Whole Foods stores to overcharge them by claiming store packaged items weigh more than they do. According to New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs, that's exactly what's been happening and people have taken to social media to voice their anger with Whole Foods even after the chain said allegations it was "systematically overcharging" customers were "completely inaccurate."
Last week, New York's Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Julie Menin, claimed her department had tested 80 different products and found mislabeled weights that resulted in higher prices for the chain's customers. The most egregious example was a package of coconut shrimp with a price $14.84 higher than its weight warranted.
"Our inspectors tell me this is the worst case of mislabeling they have seen in their careers, which DCA and New Yorkers will not tolerate," said Ms. Menin. "As a large chain grocery store, Whole Foods has the money and resources to ensure greater accuracy and to correct what appears to be a widespread problem — the city's shoppers deserve to be correctly charged."
Photo: RetailWire
It should be noted that Whole Foods was not alone in overcharging customers. While it was called out as a serious offender, 77 percent of stores checked by NYC inspectors were found to have at least one violation.
For it's part, Whole Foods has said it aims to be 100 percent accurate but that mistakes can happen as a result of scales that need to be calibrated correctly or simple human error. The company announced it was taking steps to improve its associate training and that it had hired a third-party to audit stores across the country.
The company also reminded customers to ask cashiers to check the weight of any store packed item if they have concerns. If it turns out the weight is not in the customer's favor, the item is free.
Working against Whole Foods in the court of public opinion are previous cases in which the chain paid fines for inaccurate pricing, including $800,000 in California last year.
- Department of Consumer Affairs Investigation Uncovers Systemic Overcharging for Pre-packaged Foods at City's Whole Foods - New York City Department of Consumer Affairs
- Addressing Weight and Pricing: A Message to Our Customers - Whole Foods Market
- Whole Foods Market - Facebook
- Whole Foods chain faces NYC probe after investigators found 'worst case of overcharges' - New York Daily News
- Whole Foods customers file lawsuit against chain claiming they paid extra for falsely labeled foods - New York Daily News
- Whole Foods cited for overcharging customers. Again - The Associated Press/The Christian Science Monitor