COLUMBUS, Ohio — The State of Ohio and Dollar General have reached an agreement for now to avert a temporary restraining order over allegations of deceptive pricing.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the update with the Tennessee-based retailer on Wednesday.
“This is just a step in the process,” Yost said. “Litigation is not over, but this is a step in the right direction.”
Yost announced in November he was suing Dollar General after his office received complaints from March 2021 to August 2022 detailing unfair and deceptive prices by stores in several counties, including Franklin and Madison.
According to Yost, multiple county auditors have inspected stores and found that many of the prices displayed on the shelves did not match the prices charged at the checkout even after he announced the lawsuit.
Two weeks after the announcement, Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano said five stores in the county failed two inspections of their price scanners.
Yost said the stipulated order outlines the terms and conditions that Dollar General must implement.
This includes taking the steps to ensure shelf prices match the charged prices. For instance, employees will be required to change a products shelf price if customers contend that they are being charged more at the register.
Additionally, the company is required to educate employees about the policy and to post signs in its Ohio stores informing customers of the policy.
The order also requires district managers to perform price checks for at least 25 items in each store every 45 days. If more than five items show discrepancies, the corporate office must be notified.
A week after announcing the lawsuit against Dollar General, Yost said the state was going after Family Dollar for similar pricing issues.
