Walmart shoppers are being urged to be more vigilant when reviewing their receipts after one customer spotted a mysterious $25.68 charge for an item she never purchased. The shopper, who had visited a Walmart Supercenter in Marksville, Louisiana, noticed the error while reviewing her receipt after completing her food shop.
The Mystery Charge
The shopper was charged around $24 for an emoji-themed sheet that she had not picked up during her shopping trip. Upon noticing the discrepancy, she raised the issue with a Walmart employee, who explained that the store’s tills were sometimes “crazy” and that the pricing system had made an error, leading to the overcharge.
“I thank goodness I’m observant,” she said, “and noticed a $23.99 charge for something I knew I hadn’t bought.”
The Explanation and Refund
When the shopper queried the overcharge at the service counter, she was told that the machine had confused the price of the previous item—a pack of meat priced at $4.28—and mistakenly applied it to the sheet. The worker admitted that the item number for the sheet didn’t even show up in the system, indicating that something went wrong with the checkout process.
The shopper was eventually refunded $25.68 for the error, with the employee adding that the machines sometimes do “crazy things.”
Other Shoppers Share Similar Experiences
The post quickly gained traction on social media, with other Walmart shoppers sharing their own experiences with overcharges. One user shared, “I found stuff like that often on my receipts, so now I only self-check and watch the screen to see what rings up as I scan.”
Another shopper echoed the warning, stating, “I had a similar issue at my local Dollar Store near Walmart, and while it was just a little over $5, I got my money back quickly. Always check your receipts!”
Past Technical Glitches
This isn’t the first time Walmart has faced scrutiny over pricing errors. In March 2024, the retailer admitted to a technical glitch that caused overcharging at 1,600 stores across the United States. The glitch prevented price data from being properly transferred to the self-checkout kiosks, leading to thousands of items being overcharged, including food, clothes, and appliances.
Walmart claimed that they made it a priority to refund customers who were overcharged due to the glitch.
Lawsuit Settlement
This latest incident follows a $45 million settlement Walmart agreed to pay for a class-action lawsuit in Florida. The lawsuit accused the company of overcharging customers for products such as citrus fruit, meat, poultry, and seafood sold by weight. Walmart denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.
Advice from Shoppers
Many shoppers, particularly on forums like Reddit, shared their tips for avoiding such issues. One user advised, “I always try to watch the scans and check my receipt before leaving the store.” Another added, “It’s good practice to always check prices, no matter what you are buying and where. Mistakes happen. Since prices go up more often than down, it’s usually in favor of the store.”
Some Shoppers Have Been Lucky
On the flip side, one happy shopper shared a funny story: “One summer, I got free salad all summer from Walmart’s pricing errors. They once tried to blame it on miscommunication between departments. I don’t care. Give me free stuff!”
