All Eyes on Scanned Pricing

                                                                                  Week 30 ( Save $30 )
                                                                                  Week 31 ( Save $31 )

What if I told you that you can get up to $100 or more of FREE stuff .. all you have to do is be a sharper and informed consumer and look at your cash receipts or scan items. That is all to it! ... and thank you to SCOP!

SCOP ? Never heard of it...what is that gibberish all about?   SCOP is also known as the Scanning Code of Practice. This code was enacted in June 2002 as a promise from major retailers to the consumer that will be accurate scanning at the register on all UPC codes.  It basically means “the price we have listed on our shelves will be the price that rings up at the register”.


The Code state: If the product scans in at a price HIGHER than the price listed on the shelf, the customer is entitled to receive the item free, up to a $10 imaximum (customer will receive $10 off when the item costs $10 or more).

SCOP does not include pharmacy related products or price-ticketed items (ex. markdowns, 50% off tickets or red ticket items for quick sales). 


Example senario's of how the code works:

1.  If you were to find an item with a label on the shelf advertising it at $9.99, but when scanned it rings up at $12.00, you would end up getting the item for FREE because the lower advertised/correct price of $9.99 is less than $10.  SCOP only applies to the first item. The other item would ring in with the adjusted lower price that was advertised on the shelf.

AND

Note that each item has its own unique UPC. Such items, often shampoos, conditioners and hairspray have different UPC codes even though the store may be advertising a sale of $5 each.

If all three items ring in incorrectly, you would get the shampoo, conditioner and hairspray FREE if they have different UPC codes on the bottles.

2.  If you were to find an item advertised in a store flyer for $50, but when scanned it rings up at $60, you would pay $40 for the product after SCOP is applied because they would subtract $10 from the advertised/correct price of $50.

3. If you were to find an item with a shelf label of $12.00 and it rings up at $9.99, SCOP does not apply at all because the price is lower at the checkout than advertised. You would most likely pay the scanned price of $9.99, not the $12.00.

Finally, if you were to find an item with a price sticker affixed to the item itself for $9.99, but when scanned it rings up at $12.00, SCOP would not apply because it does not apply to products that are individually labelled with a price. You would most likely pay the lower price of $9.99
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The Scanning Code of Practice does not apply when items have price tickets on them. It only applies for displayed signs in stores. So If the store did not remove it's sales price display from last weeks sale. SCOP is applied here. You will pay at the display price not the scanned price.


Stores that are signed up with SCOP and agreed to follow the code:

• Best Buy
• Canada Safeway Limited
• Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.
• Co-op Atlantic
• Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
• Federated Co-operatives Limited
• Future Shop
• Giant Tiger Stores Ltd.
• Home Hardware (2 franchisees only)
• Lawton Drug Stores
• Loblaw Companies Limited
• London Drugs
• Longos Brothers Fruit Markets
• Lovell Drugs
• Metro Inc.
• Overwaitea Food Group
• Pharma-Save (BC only)
• Rona
• Shoppers Drug Mart
• Sobeys Inc
• The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company of Canada Limited
• The Groupe Jean Coutu (NB and ON only)
• The Harry Watson Group
• The Home Depot Canada
• The North West Company
• Thrifty Foods
• Toys R Us
• Wal*Mart Canada Corp.
• + 1374 independent locations

The Scanning Code of Practice is endorsed by the Competition Bureau of Canada and was created from the collaborative efforts of the Retail Council of Canada, the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers and the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors.

If you are not satisfied with the cashier’s decision regarding the application of the Code, at a participating store, the Competition Bureau recommends you first speak to the store manager or supervisor. If you are still dissatisfied, you may register a complaint with the Scanner Price Accuracy Committee, by calling 1-866-499-4599.

Tips for taking advantage of the code:

 

SCOP happens a lot on the first morning of the advertise sales week. Some of the stores have not changed over all shelf and display prices from the previous week.  Nor have their systems have fully been updated with the new sales prices.  You may stumble on a few good deals.

A new sales flyer, a new cycle of errors.  Keep a sharp eye out on the those days.  Once the errors have been caught by the retailer, you guaranteed those price tags will be updated quite quickly.

If you happen to return to the store on a different day and the price have not been corrected, you can take advantage of another SCOP item effortlessly.

From time to time, you will benefit from the UPC's that were not inputted into the computer programs correctly from the price switch. 

Check your purchases before you reach the check out with some retailers in-store price scanners for consumers.  You can find out before you head to the check out if you have any SCOP items or take advantage of the other products.

One experience a few weeks back, when I was out buying 3 packages of hot dogs.  The hot dogs rang in at $5.97. The cashier and I discussed the price difference, I was 100% sure the hot dogs were displayed at $3.00.  The floor manager went back to check the price.  At the cash, I was checking the UPC 's on the packaging while waiting, I knew for sure I was getting 2 packages for free ( YAY! ) and willing to pay only $3.00 for the whole lot (I had two packages of the all beef and one package of the cheddar ).  In speaking to the floor manager, he was impressed that I actually caught price scan and surprised that NO other customers caught the price discrepancy all  week since today was the final sales date.  I was so proud of myself for calling them on the SCOP "card".   Duly noted: I was entitled in this matter.. hotdoggins!
 

In most cases, the cashiers are trained on the scanning code of practice and will implement SCOP but for those cashiers who forgotten or  undertrained who look at you baffled and have never heard of such nonsense.  Just point out the white sticker displayed and you may need to ask a store manager to resolve your pricing issue.  You actually have rights!

Look for the SCOP sign posted in the entrance doors or look just below the cash register check outs, usually where you sign for your credit card or debit transactions. This signage has been there all this time but we missed it for some reason. 

It absolutely does PAY OFF to watch the register prices as consumers and we can take advantage of this law in Canada protecting our right to freebies!


                                                           Good Luck!