Scanner Price Accuracy Code

The Scanner Price Accuracy Code is a voluntary code (which began in June 2002) to ensure scanner price accuracy for consumers. When a customer presents a claim and where the scanned price of a product at checkout is higher than the price displayed in the store, or than advertised by the store, the lower price will be honoured; and

1. if the correct price of the product is $10 or less, the retailer will give the product to the customer free of charge; or
2. if the correct price of the product is higher than $10, the retailer will give the customer a discount of $10 off the corrected price

If in the event that the issue cannot be resolved by store management, there is a 1-866 line available to customers to raise concerns and seek clarification regarding the application of the Code.

This voluntary code, supported by the Competition Bureau, allows retailers to self-regulate scanner accuracy as an alternative to government regulation. The Scanner Price Accuracy Code does not apply in Québec because the provincial government has regulated scanner accuracy.

Participation in the Code demonstrates to customers and government your organization’s commitment to scanner price accuracy.

Member To Do:

Retail Council of Canada along with the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers administer the Code on behalf of the Canadian retail industry.

Participating retailers can purchase Scanner Price Accuracy Code stickers to display in their stores. A minimum of 100 stickers must be purchased per order at $0.75 per sticker. To order your stickers, please contact RCC’s Membership Department at membership@retailcouncil.org or by phone at 1-888-373-8245.

Background:

The Scanner Price Accuracy Code applies to all scanned merchandise sold in all participating stores with a Universal Product Code (UPC), bar code, and Price Look-Up (PLU). It does not include price-ticketed items, such as produce, or goods not easily accessible to the public, such as prescription drugs and behind-the-counter cosmetics.

Since its creation, over 7,000 stores across Canada have joined the Scanner Price Accuracy Code.

Further information regarding the Scanner Price Accuracy Code can be found here.