(PCM) If you have ever shopped at Whole Foods, you are well aware that their prices are always quite a bit higher than you would pay at a regular grocery chain. In fact, the grocery retailer has even been jokingly referred to as “Whole Paycheck” over the years. Recently, investigators in New York launched a probe into Whole Foods pricing and discovered that they have been grossly overcharging their customers for years.
In fact, the investigators called it “the worst case of overcharges” they have ever seen! It was found that Whole Food has been overcharging customers over a period of the last five years. The store received violations which included inaccurate weight labels on pre-packaged food, as well as, adding tax to non-taxable items.
To give an example, the cost of pre-packaged coconut shrimp was marked up by as much as almost $15.00 above normal cost, a pack of chicken tenders by about $5.00, and a vegetable party tray by about $6.00. Definitely hurting the pockets of consumers!
A spokesperson for Whole Foods defends the store saying that the pricing often happens on the manufacturing side of things and that the grocers are not to blame for the price gouging. Just last year, Whole Foods paid upwards of $800, 000 in a settlement for overcharging consumers for food based on weight.
Are you a Whole Foods shopper? How happy are you with their pricing practices?