CINCINNATI — Ever feel like your grocery bill doesn't quite add up? One local family's shocking discovery at checkout serves as a reminder that it's always a good idea to double-check your receipt.
Sharon Hull's husband picked up what appeared to be a normal pack of white American cheese from the pre-packaged section at Kroger. The back of the package clearly showed a $5 sticker, but when it was scanned at checkout, the price rang up as $45.
WATCH: Family overcharged by $40 for Kroger cheese
"It was kind of funny because when I got home from work, he had said, 'You wouldn't believe I just got stuff for chili and for my lunch and it was like $140,'" Hull said.
Hull agreed the total seemed high, but she didn't think much of it until the next day, when she was making a sandwich.
"The next day I went to make a sandwich and was like, 'Do you still have the receipt because the package says $45,'" Hull said.
The good news? Kroger fixed the error and gave her a full refund, but Hull wanted to share her story as a reminder for other shoppers to always check their receipts.
"When you purchase it with other things, sometimes you don't pay as close attention. I didn't want that to happen to someone else and them not catch it," Hull said.
How to avoid overpaying on groceries
Here are several ways to protect yourself from checkout errors:
- Watch the screen as items are scanned — It's the best way to catch errors before you pay
- Double-check your receipt — Make sure sales, coupons and rewards actually apply
- Verify produce codes and weights — If you didn't buy organic, don't pay for it
- Look for duplicates — Barcodes can sometimes incorrectly ring up twice
- Keep a photo of your receipt — It makes refunds easy if you discover errors later
The Hull family has turned their expensive mistake into a running joke.
"It's like a joke now, we're like, 'Do you want a really fancy sandwich with the expensive cheese?'" Hull said.
When asked if it was the best white American cheese she had ever had, Hull laughed.
"I mean, it was delicious, I don't know if it was $45 delicious, like Michelin Star cheese, but it was delicious," Hull said.
Bottom line: Mistakes happen. Take a few extra seconds to check your receipt, so you don't waste your money.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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