A new investigation found widespread pricing errors at the nation's two largest convenience-store chains By Kyle James of ConsumerAffairs September 29, 2026 Prices didnt always match: Circle K failed 82% of government price-accuracy inspections in Columbus, Ohio, while 7-Eleven failed 79% in one New York county.It's not just snacks: Consumers also complained about gas pumps charging more than prices displayed on roadside signs.Protect yourself: Photograph sale signs or shelf tags, watch the register, and keep your receipt until you've checked the prices.That $3.99 bag of snacks might not cost $3.99 when you get to the register.A new The Guardian investigation found widespread price discrepancies at 7-Eleven and Circle K, the country's two largest convenience-store chains, with shoppers sometimes paying more at checkout than prices displayed on shelves, sale signs, and even gas-station marquees.Government inspection records examined by The Guardian found Circle K failed 35% of price-accuracy inspections in Florida, 62% in North Carolina, and a whopping 82% in Columbus, Ohio, between 2023 and 2025.7-Eleven failed 47% of inspections in Colorado and Utah and 79% in Ontario County, New York.And this isn't just a matter of a few pennies.During one Arizona inspection this year, 12 of 25 products at a 7-Eleven rang up higher than their shelf prices. A $3.99 pack of gum rang up at $4.99.The Guardian also reviewed 153 consumer complaints involving the two chains across 17 states. Roughly half involved food, drinks, and other merchandise, while the rest involved gasoline, including complaints that prices at the pump were higher than those advertised on roadside signs.The problem may be bigger at convenience storesConvenience stores had the highest price-inspection failure rate of any retail category examined in a 2024 National Council on Weights and Measures report cited by The Guardian.Convenience stores failed 34% of inspections across 26 states, compared with 29% for dollar stores and 27% for auto-parts stores.The problem can be particularly easy to miss at a convenience store. You're probably grabbing a drink, snacks, or a few gallons of gas and trying to get back on the road quickly. Youre not studying your receipt for a 40-cent discrepancy.But those small amounts can add up.7-Eleven told The Guardian that it takes pricing accuracy "very seriously" and has processes to correct discrepancies when they're identified. Circle K said it is committed to complying with applicable laws and regulations and works to correct unintentional pricing errors.5 ways to protect yourselfTake a… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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