TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) – It’s a Whole Foods fiasco. The popular, upscale chain was busted for overcharging customers.
One shopper told us, “I don’t know how they’ve been able to get away with it. I mean, that is like robbery.” Shoppers are not happy.
Moms like Karen Lockhart shop at the South Tampa store for specialty items. She told 8 On Your Side she feels lied to. “I am disappointed that they overcharge, but I think it’s good for the public to know,” Lockhart said. She plans to take her business elsewhere – and wants an apology. “I hope now that it has been exposed, they’ll issue an apology and maybe adjust their prices accordingly,” Lockhart added.
The scandal started with a secret case last fall in New York City. A consumer affairs commissioner began testing products and found overcharging all over the place with pre-packaged meats, dairy and baked goods. Experts also found packaged products where the weight listed on the label didn’t match the true weight of the product.
Wednesday in Tampa, shoppers expressed their shock. “We all work hard for our money and we expect to get what we’re buying. This is really damaging,” one woman said. “We work hard enough just to bring home the bacon, especially when you have kids,” another mom said.
This isn’t the first time Whole Foods controversy. Last year, the chain paid $800,000 in penalties for pricing irregularities.
Whole Foods did not return calls or emails to 8 On Your Side. In a statement to NBC News, the company said, “We disagree with the DCA’s overreaching allegations and we are vigorously defending ourselves. We cooperated fully with the DCA from the beginning until we disagreed with their grossly excessive monetary demands. Despite our requests to the DCA, they have not provided evidence to back up their demands nor have they requested any additional information from us, but instead have taken this to the media to coerce us.”
