Ralphs Supermarkets Accused of Overcharging L.A. Customers

Case stems from an undercover investigation at 14 stores.

KTLA News
6:04 PM PDT, May 11, 2010

LOS ANGELES -- The Ralphs supermarket chain is being accused of overcharging customers when it comes to prepackaged and weighed products at stores throughout Los Angeles.

And the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office is involved in the matter.

The city attorney's office filed criminal charges Tuesday against the Ralphs supermarket chain and its parent company, Kroger Co., accusing them of overcharging for some of its goods in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors filed 14 counts of false and misleading advertising along with other charges, including false labeling and unlawful computation of value.


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Both Ralphs and Cincinnati-based Kroger face fines and penalties of up to $256,000.

The charges come after an undercover investigation at 14 Ralphs stores across L.A. between January and March.

Prosecutors say they found customers were being gouged for prepackaged and weighed products including fried chicken and salad.

Inspectors from the county's Department of Weights and Measures discovered 27 violations.

Most of them involved the store illegally charging for the weight of the package, or including the ice glaze on frozen products in the net weight, authorities said.

Some prepackaged items also were found to be under the weight on the label.

The L.A. City Attorney's Office provided KTLA with this list of the 14 Ralphs locations where the undercover investigation took place:

3410 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90020 22333 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303 16940 Devonshire St., Granada Hills, CA 91344 18101 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills, CA 91344 5601 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 16325 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91436 260 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036 14440 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91401 11727 Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 14049 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 21909 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367 1050 N. Western Ave., San Pedro, CA 90732 10701 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 90604 3300 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90043

If inaccurate weights or charge calculations are suspected, consumers are asked to report such observations to the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures. All complaints received are investigated. Consumer complaints may be reported by phone at (562) 622-0400 or may be filed via the ACWM Website at http://acwm.lacounty.gov .

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