News

Proposed legislation would eliminate price stickers in Michigan

February 27, 2011

According to The Detroit Free Press, shoppers in Michigan may no longer see price stickers on merchandise because of pending legislation supported by Gov. Rick Snyder. The legislation passed the Michigan House of Representatives, and the Michigan Senate will address it next week.

Proponents of the legislation believe individual price tags are outdated because the cost to retailers and consumers is more than $2 billion in labor and associated expenses each year. It is also expected that eliminating the price stickers will make the state more competitive by attracting more retailers.

"We spend almost, just under $1 million a year just for the little white tags and for the guns," said Dale Hollandsworth, spokesman for Michigan Kroger stores. "Why is Michigan the only state that we have to have this expense?"

"It's still in the law that you have to communicate the price clearly and at the place where the item is," said Tom Scott, senior vice president of the Michigan Retailers Association, which is based in Lansing.

Shelf signs, with large type and information, such as price per ounce, would be used for shoppers to match the price with the corresponding item.