To be clear, Allegany County Weights and Measures is not being cited...but this site commends Gilbert Green and his years of service.
An audit of 10 counties found that some did not adequately test the accuracy of retail prices or test scanners, scales and devices used to price, weigh or measure goods at grocery stores, gas stations and other retail locations to make sure that consumers were paying the correct price, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said today.
“When consumers shop for groceries or buy gas or even mulch, they expect the retailers to be fair and the pricing or weighing devices they use to be accurate. If price scanners or scales are incorrect, or prices don’t match those displayed, it can add up and consumers may end up paying more for everyday items,” DiNapoli said. “Our audit found that counties need to step up their efforts to protect consumers and routinely test these devices and check that consumers are getting what they pay for.”
Testing of retail pricing and weighing devices falls under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets which monitors compliance with state law, but counties are charged with inspecting and testing the accuracy of vendor pricing and devices used at local retailers to determine how much a consumer pays.
County weights and measures departments are called on to inspect everything from commercial scales and gas pumps to packaged items at grocery stores. They are authorized to set up procedures for conducting local inspections, including testing scanners to ensure they are charging the correct prices, testing weighing devices, handling consumer complaints, following up with businesses that have deficiencies and taking enforcement actions.
Auditors examined 10 counties: Greene, Jefferson, Madison, Nassau, Niagara, Orange, Seneca, Tompkins, Washington, and Wyoming. They reviewed nearly 1,800 devices and 260 businesses.
Retail sales in New York were more than $260 billion in 2023-24. Approximately $8.3 billion was spent in grocery stores in the counties audited during the audit period of January 2022 to September 2023.
