Chicago: Over Half of CVS Stores Caught Overcharging
In Chicago, CVS is the worst of big drug chains inspected when it comes to overcharging customers, according to the city’s Department of Consumer Services. Over half – 54 percent – of the CVS stores the agency inspected in September 2007 were charging consumers more than items’ advertised prices. Most of the CVS overcharges – over 80 percent of them – were on supposedly discounted items. The CVS overcharges included:
- An overcharge of almost $10 on Dimetapp Children’s cough syrup, which advertised at $3.25 but sold for $12.49.
- A $7.74 overcharge on Bayer Eye Vitality nutritional supplement. CVS had advertised it for sale at half off but charged the regular price of $15.49.
- An $8.17 overcharge on Kondremul liquid laxative, which CVS advertised at $2.62 but sold for $10.79.
CVS had a higher overcharge rate than Walgreens, where the agency found overcharges at one-third of stores, and Osco, which posted overcharges at just over one-fourth of stores.
