How to Avoid Being Overcharged at the Register

On October 26, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued discount store chain Dollar General. In their own words, the FTC alleges that the Dollar General Corporation has been "engaging in long-running deceptive pricing practices by routinely charging customers more at the register than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags and advertisements, costing consumers millions of dollars."

Dollar General is a massive company with over 20,000 stores in 48 states. The majority of the items they sell are priced affordably. They call themselves "America's neighborhood general store" and their stores are often located in small, rural towns and similar "food deserts" that are otherwise underserved by competing retailers.

The customers who shop at Dollar General are often working with extremely tight budgets, which makes the accusation that they were being deliberately overcharged especially concerning.

Dollar General has strongly denied the claims, but however the FTC lawsuit turns out, it's worth taking a few extra steps to make sure you're not being overcharged (intentionally or unintentionally).

Best tips to avoid being overcharged

Take photos of shelf prices

We've all got smartphones with cameras. Now's the time to use yours. When you see a particularly good deal, take a quick photo of the shelf tag. Make sure the photo includes the product description, price, and any sale conditions.

This provides evidence of the advertised price, which will come in handy if the item scans at a higher price. It also saves you from holding up the line waiting for someone to go check the price manually.

Watch prices as items are scanned

Pay attention to the checkout screen while your items are being scanned. This is especially important when purchasing discounted merchandise.

If something scans incorrectly, ask the cashier to verify the price immediately. Correcting an error before paying is usually easier than requesting a refund afterward.

Always request and review your receipt

It's nice to save paper, but you're not doing yourself any favors by denying your receipt, especially when buying several items. Before leaving the store, compare the prices against what you remember seeing on the shelves.

Pay particular attention to sale items, clearance merchandise, digital coupons, and products advertised with special promotions. These are the most likely candidates to scan incorrectly.

Understand the fine print on promotional pricing

Sometimes the difference between what you thought you were going to be paying and the actual price is a misunderstanding on your part, and not an actual overcharge. Some discounts or promotions come with certain strings attached that may not be obvious unless you're paying close attention.

For example, to get the deal you may need to:

• Purchase multiple items ("buy 4 for $10" usually means you can't just buy one for $2.50)
• Use a store loyalty account or activate a digital coupon
• Buy a specific size, flavor, or variety
• Make the purchase before a certain date

Make sure to read the conditions before shopping so you know how to claim your discount and don't mistake a legitimate pricing restriction for an error.

Be careful with digital coupons

Digital discounts can be easy to miss at checkout. A coupon may not have been activated correctly, the account may not be linked to the transaction, or the product may not qualify.

Before paying, confirm that the discount was applied. If it wasn't, make sure you understand why and ask to have the problem corrected, if possible.

Double-check clearance and markdown items

Once an item hits clearance status, it may go through multiple rounds of price deductions, which can complicate things at the register.

Check whether the advertised discount applies to the exact item you're buying. If a product has an individual markdown sticker, make sure the cashier sees it.

Know your state's price accuracy laws

Sometimes pricing errors happen. It's not necessarily an intentional overcharge by the store, but simple human error: a misprinted sales tag, a decimal in the wrong place, etc. 

Whether it's a mistake or not, you may still be entitled to the advertised price. A store's legal obligation to honor a displayed price ultimately depends on applicable law and the circumstances, so don't assume every discrepancy automatically entitles you to the lower price. When a price is clearly a mistake (a $100 appliance labeled at $1) laws typically expect that a reasonable consumer would understand that the price is an error. 

You don't need to be a legal expert to make sure you don't get ripped off at Target, but it's helpful to know the specific rights and protections available in your state.

You can search online for [your state] + "price accuracy law" or "consumer protection" to learn which rules apply.

Report repeated pricing discrepancies

A one-time error may be an honest mistake. Repeated discrepancies, especially when the price keeps coming in higher than what's advertised, may be a sign of intentional deception.

You can report suspected deceptive pricing to:

• The Federal Trade Commission
• Your state attorney general's consumer protection division
• Your state or local weights and measures agency, which may oversee retail scanner accuracy

Keep copies of receipts, photographs, and any correspondence with the store. These records can help regulators identify patterns.

Keep track of your refund

If the store agrees to correct an overcharge, make sure that the refund or adjustment actually happened and reflects the correct amount.

For debit and credit card transactions, hold on to the refund receipt and check that the credit appears on your account. Some refunds take several business days to process.

For most American families, every dollar is important. Even a few extra cents added to every transaction can add up to a lot if you're not paying attention. Being vigilant at the checkout counter takes a little effort, but it's a good way to make sure you're not paying more than you should.

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