2023 Scanner Price Accuracy Code Canada
Have you heard of the Canadian Scanner Price Accuracy Code? It could be very valuable to you!
Most Canadian retailers take part in this practice. In Quebec it’s the law and in other provinces, it’s voluntary. Basically, if you purchase an item believing it to be a certain price but the item actually scans at a higher price then advertised, you receive the item free up to a $10 value! If the item is priced more than $10, then the retailer will give you a discount of $10 off the corrected price.
The code applies to all UPC, bar coded, and/or Price Look Up (PLU) merchandise sold in stores, with the exception of goods not easily accessible to the public (example: prescription drugs and behind the counter cosmetics), and individually price-ticketed items.
To be eligible for the Item Free Scanner Policy, the item must match the product description on the corresponding shelf tag.
Does that make sense?
Quite often the cashier won’t give you the product free without you mentioning the Scanner Price Accuracy Code. So if you notice a wrong price, speak up!
At participating retailers you should see a sign on the entrance doors and at the till that reads:
If you would like more information, visit this site: Retail Council of Canada
Here is a list of participating retailers:
- Best Buy
- Bulkley Valley Wholesale
- Canadian Tire
- Co-op Atlantic
- Costco Wholesale Canada
- Federated Co-operatives Limited
- Giant Tiger Stores
- 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
- Home Hardware (2 Ontario stores)
- Lawton Drug Stores
- Loblaw Companies Limited
- London Drugs
Longos Brothers Fruit Markets - Lovell Drugs
- Metro Inc.
- Overwaitea Foods
- Pharmasave (BC stores)
- PriceSmart Foods
- Rona
- Safeway
- Save-On-Foods
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Sobeys
- The North West Company
- Thrifty Foods
- Toys”R”Us
- Urban Fare
- Walmart Canada
I bought a yellow pepper at Freshco and didn’t notice until I got home that I was charged $6.59 kg instead of the tag price of $4.38 kg. I called the store and they said it was a cashier error and I wouldn’t be able to get the pepper for free. They said the cashier should have rung in the “sale price” for the pepper, not the “regular price”. This is ridiculous. Whatever, how many other people paid a higher price?
I just paid 36 more then i should because the wrong label. Walmart refuse to give me the 10 discount as they only “honour this code 24 hours after purchase” . Is that right?
Hate this thing. I have seen people fighting over a dollar and wasting other peoples’ time in the queue. Sometimes some customers pick the item and suddenly change their mind and leave the item at wrong spot and now other guy comes and pick that item and when it scans at wrong price, starts crying like a baby and demands it for free…..Epitome of cheapness.
I’ve used tia many times.
I got anniversary baby dolls.
Reg price $79.99. But the overflowed into another spot. So I got the first one for free and second one for the $7.99 it was marked at.
Homedepot with many tools and bits that were in the wrong spot. Even got a paint sprayer for $300 less then it should be.
I just went to shoppers drug mart and I mentioned the SPOC as the price was higher then posted. He told me it was an item on sale, so I had two options. 1 – pay the sales price and don’t get the $10. off.
2- pay the regular price and get the $10. off. Items on sale do not apply. Is this correct.
No, I don’t think that’s correct. I find it often applies specifically to sale items because they scan in at the regular price.
Joyce the sale items should apply! I take a photo of the barcode, product and display to have it handy to show if it’s a sale item, or an item unclear.
Once I got a baby bumble chair with the tray for a sale price less $10. It was displayed with the chairs with no tray on sale but they were all together on the same pallet with the sign. I was told they needed to change that display and wouldn’t apply SPOC . I had a photo of it and said I would have to speak with management then even if they changed the display. Over the years I’ve got food, travel mugs, toys, and a Hibiscus shrub for free or reduced….if it was over $10 on sale the $10 came off of the sale price. Once for about three weeks I was getting a free fry pan each time I went into a certain Walmart! It did become a bit of a game for me only because the second time I saw the display I went to ring out and the cashier was not nice about it. Imagine my pleasure when they left the display at a lower price! They made great gifts.
SPOC is in place for consumer protection. I’m pleased with the stores who participate, telling me that they care as well. It should be mandatory across the country not just Quebec.
Apparently the Great Canadian Dollar Store, a large growing chain does not honor this CODE. I purchased two different items that were clearly ticketed on each item (did not have an attaching shelf label) each ring up at a high price at the register. I would think this would be moe of an illegal practice then what might be covered in the ÇODE.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a regular price or sale price that’s wrong, it’s still SCOP. If the sale tag is expired but was left up, it’s not free (SCOP) but customer gets product for the price on the sale tag
The shoppers drug mart in B.C. Vancouver don’t honour this scanning code of practice and the compliant phone number can’t be called due to covid-19. I just wonder is there another place to summit a complaint. Btw I used self check out so can’t do the survey.
Purchased an item for the posted $10.00. It scanned in for $11.99. Apparently the sale ended yesterday. Manager would not approve the item as free, only agreed to sell it at the posted price of $10. She said policy has changed and if the sign has a sale date on it, (it doesn’t matter that it was left up accidentally), they do not have to give it for free. The expiry date was in very small print at the bottom of the sign. I’m assuming this is what stores are now doing to protect themselves???
This is actually the new SCOP policy.
I bought a mug at a Starbucks inside a Sobeys, was supposed to be 40% off but was scanning at regular price. I asked if SCOP applied and they said no. I argued that it was a Sobeys POS system and a Sobey’s receipt. Should I have received $10 off the price?
I had this happen at home hardware they forgot to take the sale price down and refused the scop. I asked they said they don’t do that.
Shoppers Drug Mart has abolished their Scanning Code of Practice. I was overcharged, pointed it out, and they only refunded me the difference. I was a little disappointed. They said the code was abolished three months ago. I see nothing about it on the internet.
I recently visited Sobey’s Ropewalk Lane store in St. John’s NL and the only refund was the difference between the shelf price and the scanned price. I was told Sobeys doesn’t do that anymore. Leaves retailers lots if leeway to knowingly rip off customers. At least with the SCOP it was in the store’s interest to make sure their prices were accurate.
In response to your article. The article stated, “To be eligible for the Item Free Scanner Policy, the item must match the product description on the corresponding shelf tag.
This is not correct. The scanning Code of Practice does NOT state, “the item must match the product description on the corresponding shelf tag.
Please read the Scanning Code of Practice carefully!
Scanning Code of Practice: If the scanned price of a non-price item is higher than the shelf price or any other displayed price, the customer is entitled to receive the first item free, up to a $10 maximum. If a Code of Practice problem cannot be resolved at the store level, please call 1-866-499-4599 to register your complaint.
To be more precise, it states, “higher than the shelf price or any other displayed price,”
Please change your article with accurate information, Thank you!
I stand corrected. You are correct, when you read the policy in full, but I would argue this point with any manager because that part of the policy is not posted for the public to see.