AutoZone, other NJ auto retailers accused of tricking customers with wrong prices

The automotive parts retail chain AutoZone paid state regulators $47,500 to settle charges that their stores failed to clearly mark their prices.

The state investigation found that when AutoZones in Newark, Carteret, Elizabeth, Linden, Flemington and Plainfield scanned items at their cash registers, the prices were higher than what had been posted on the products.

In settling the dispute, AutoZone agreed to conduct weekly merchandise price audits, create a pricing accuracy best-practices guide, provide annual pricing training for store managers and employ a corporate pricing compliance coordinator for its New Jersey stores, state officials said.

Autozone is not the only chain to take heat for similar allegations by the state Division of Consumer Affairs' Office of Consumer Protection and the state Office of Weights and Measures.

The state found that Genuine Parts Company in New Brunswick, Wilson Auto Parts in Newark, Big Ed’s Automotive in the Colonia section of Woodbridge, and Stuyvesant Auto Parts in Union Township also failed to plainly mark the total selling price on merchandise offered for sale in their stores.

Big Ed’s Automotive was additionally cited for not having its refund policy conspicuously posted.

After the investigation, these stores agreed to not engage in any deceptive practices and paid fines ranging from $1,000 to $7,500 plus other costs.

In December, the Division of Consumer Affairs filed court actions against Advance Stores Company (doing business as Advance Auto) and Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack of Delaware, Inc. (doing business as Pep Boys), alleging merchandise pricing and price scanning violations at several stores throughout New Jersey. These cases are pending.

“Consumers have a right to know the price of merchandise before they remove it from the shelves” Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy said Tuesday. “Requiring consumers to wait until they are in a checkout line to discover the price deprives consumers of the opportunity to make an informed decision as to purchases and is in direct violation of our consumer protection laws.”

Have you been scammed?

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business can file an online complaint with the state Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or calling 800-242-5846 or 973-504- 6200.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips at sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook