Denver, CO – Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser has declared a $400,000 settlement with Dollar General after an inquiry uncovered that the retailer was charging customers more at checkout than the prices displayed on the shelves.
This settlement comes after inspections revealed significant pricing discrepancies at Dollar General stores throughout the state. Along with the financial penalty, the company has committed to rectifying its pricing methods, providing employee training, performing regular audits, and displaying clear signs to inform customers of their right to the lowest advertised price.
“When shoppers go to the store, they are entitled to pay the price they see on the shelves,” said AG Weiser. “Dollar General told customers one price and charged another. That’s deceptive, and I’m holding them accountable.”
Dollar General runs more than 20,000 locations across the country, with over 70 situated in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is responsible for inspecting these stores to ensure pricing accuracy, and any store that has discrepancies exceeding 2% of the items tested will fail the inspection.
In 2023, CDA inspectors discovered that Dollar General did not pass three out of five inspections conducted at its stores in Weld and Larimer Counties. Furthermore, a comprehensive investigation carried out by the Attorney General’s Office in 2024 and 2025 uncovered even greater problems: 12 out of 18 stores that were inspected did not meet the pricing accuracy standards.
Settlement Terms
As part of the settlement, Dollar General must:
- Pay $400,000 in penalties.
- Post signs in all Colorado stores notifying customers the lowest price will be honored if discrepancies arise.
- Conduct regular price audits in all Colorado locations for the next three years.
- Improve employee training on accurate pricing.
- Report audit findings and any corrective actions to the Attorney General’s Office.
The settlement is aimed at ensuring long-term compliance and transparency in pricing practices for Colorado consumers.
Weiser encouraged residents to report pricing discrepancies at StopFraudColorado.gov, noting that consumer complaints played a key role in uncovering the Dollar General violations.
“We rely on Coloradans to be our eyes and ears,” Weiser said. “If you see something wrong, report it — we will take action.”
