Brunswick County Dollar General fined for repeated price scanner errors

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Dollar General store in Brunswick County was fined more than $9,000 after repeated price-scanning errors during inspections conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

State officials said the Dollar General at 1745 Southport Supply Road in Bolivia paid three fines totaling $9,300 after failing three inspections in the second half of 2025.

A July inspection found an overcharge error rate of 7.67%, with 23 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store was fined $2,600.

A follow-up inspection in September found an even higher error rate of 10%, with 30 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store was fined $3,175.

Another follow-up inspection in November found an error rate of 8%, with 24 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store was fined $3,525 and will be reinspected.

The department conducts periodic, unannounced inspections to ensure prices advertised on shelves match what customers are charged at the register. Stores with more than a 2% overcharge error rate are subject to follow-up inspections and potential penalties.

“We continued to see fewer price scanner errors in 2025, which is good news for shoppers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We continue to check prices in retail locations, which hopefully means fewer surprises at the register and more confidence that consumers are paying exactly what they expect.

Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors they encounter can call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.