Price Verification Program

Under California law, it is unlawful for any person to compute or to charge, at the time of sale of a commodity, a value which is not a true extension of a price unit which is then advertised, posted or quoted. 

Because of the evolving complexities of automated point-of-sale systems and how businesses manage sales pricing of their commodities, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has determined that it is in the public's interest to register and inspect all automated point-of-sale systems operating in Sonoma County. 

Under local ordinance Chapter 30, Article 1, Division B, local businesses operating a point-of-sale system, must register their business with Weights and Measures and undergo annual price verification inspections as outlined under federal price verification testing guidelines.  Point of sale systems are defined as "any individual and separate equipment that is capable of recovering electronically stored price information that is used to charge consumers for the purchase of commodities.  This includes but is not limited to, equipment that uses Universal Product Codes (UPC) scanners, price look-up codes, or any other system of commerce between a retailer and a consumer.  

The testing procedures dictating how price-verification inspections are to be conducted may be under under California's Business and Professions Code, Division 5, Chapter 13 Article 2.

• How many businesses does Weights and Measures currently have registered through their Price Verification Program?

  Sonoma County Weights and Measures has just under 700 local retail businesses registered with our Price Verification Program. Weights and Measures Inspectors verified the prices of over 21,000 packages while conducting their annual price verification at these local retailers. I was overcharged for a product at a local retailer.

• How many times in a year does Weights and Measures inspect local retailers for product price accuracy?

  Every retailer currently registered with Sonoma County Weights and Measures must undergo a minimum of one price verification inspection per year. Businesses failing their annual initial inspection, receive continued follow up inspections, until they pass an inspection by meeting a minimal threshold of pricing accuracy. Businesses failing inspection on a continuous basis are evaluated for administrative penalty or a referral to the local Sonoma County Consumer District Attorney's Office for review.

• I was not given the posted sale price. What recourse do I have as a consumer?

  The first thing you should do as a consumer is to talk to the manager of the business and explain to them what you experienced and give them the opportunity to make it right. If they absolutely refuse to honor their sales price when it is clearly posted, and you meet all of the conditions of the sale, follow up with our office by filing a consumer complaint. We will make every effort to investigate and replicate what you experienced as a consumer and we will take any appropriate action if it is necessary.

• What action does Weights and Measures take against businesses found continuously overcharging their customers for products they sell?

  Stores that continuously fail their price verification inspections and demonstrate and inability to properly manage their price files are continuously monitored by our office through inspections. Businesses are subject to administrative penalties levied against them by our office. Businesses demonstrating a complete inability or desire to make corrections and complying with state law, are referred to the Sonoma County Consumer District Attorney's Office for review and consideration for civil action.