Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829
Henry Marckres, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-2436

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Montpelier, Vt. – You may not be aware, but the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is responsible for protecting consumers in Vermont through its Consumer Protection Division. Through the work of inspectors, this division ensures you get what you pay for.

Imagine that if every time you went to the grocery store, stopped for gasoline or purchased heating oil or propane, scales and other measuring devices had to be brought along to make certain that you get your fair share for each and every purchase made based on weight, volume, quantity or price. Thanks to the Consumer Protection inspectors, consumers and businesses are spared this frustration.

The Consumer Protection Division inspectors cover the entire state, verifying the accuracy of virtually all commercial measuring and weighing devices including gas pumps, scales (ranging from small scales used in the grocery deli to the heavy duty scales used to weigh trucks), the meters on fuel delivery vehicles, taxi meters and the electronic price scanners found in almost every store in Vermont.

Consumers may not understand the connection between agriculture and weights and measures, but these regulations are some of the oldest agriculture related laws in Vermont. “When weights and measure guidelines were first instituted, they centered primarily around agricultural related laws,” said Henry Marckres, Chief of Consumer Protection with the Agency of Agriculture. “New technologies have developed so these responsibilities had to expand to accommodate the more sophisticated weights and measuring devices.”

Even the slightest inaccuracy in measurement can have enormous cost impact to the consumer. According to the National Conference of Weights and Measures, an error of slightly more than one tablespoon per five gallons at the gas pump equals a charge of $125 million annually, and depending on the direction of the error, is borne by consumers or retailers.

Marckres wants consumers to be aware that someone is looking out for their interests in the market place so that they can be confident they are getting what they pay for. “Our hope is that when consumers see the Agency’s gold sticker on the gas pump, super market scales or scanners they will be confident that they are paying the correct, advertised price.” Marckres said that the service provided by his inspectors benefits Vermont businesses as well. “In the same way a consumer is hurt when they get less than what they are paying for, the retail establishment losses when it gives out more than what they are charging for.”

The incidence of non-compliance in Vermont is very low according to Marckres who said that most problems could be traced to mechanical or human error that is easy to correct, rather than deliberate attempt to defraud.

The inspectors work with retailers cooperatively to correct problems rather than simply assessing fines. Annually, inspectors perform nearly 14,000 inspections. Of those, in 2007, over 140 were scanner inspections which found 28 violations that range from 3% to 11% error.

The Agency of Agriculture has issued administrative penalties through the Attorney General’s Office to the retail outlets that were out of compliance with the weights and measures laws in order to deter future violations. Most of the penalties that were issued involved inaccurate prices at check out where prices rang up higher than the advertised price on the shelf. “There was no evidence of intentional wrong-doing in these cases,” according to assistant attorney general Michael Duane.

In addition to weights and measures, the Consumer Protection Division also performs a wide variety of other services at the retail level including ensuring that refrigerators and freezer units are operating at the proper temperature and making sure that maple syrup, eggs, apples, and other products are graded properly.

You can protect yourself, as well. Keep track of the price of items, especially items marked on sale, as you go through the store and monitor how these items are rung up at the check out. Also, check your receipt before you leave the store and notify an employee of any discrepancies.

If you have questions or would like additional information, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture at 802-828-2436 or visit the website at www.vermontagriculture.com