East Valley : Chief Auto Accused of Overcharging

The Cerritos-based Chief Auto Parts Inc. was charged Friday with false advertising and overcharging customers in connection with an investigation undertaken at six retail outlets in the East San Fernando Valley, Central Los Angeles and Wilmington, according to City Atty. James Hahn.

In all, Chief Auto Parts faces 11 counts of false advertising, punishable by a maximum fine of $2,500 for each count; four counts of overcharging by more than $1, punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 a count; and seven counts of overcharging by less than $1, punishable by a maximum fine of $100 a count, said Deputy City Atty. Don Cocek, who is handling the case.

Hahn said the charges stem from an undercover price-checking operation of the Los Angeles County Weights and Measures inspectors. The operation was prompted by customer complaints of overcharging, he said.

The inspectors, posing as customers, compared posted prices with scanned prices at Chief Auto Parts stores, including locations at 8658 Woodman Ave. and 9700 Woodman Ave. in Arleta, and at 7401 Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys.

A comparison of the posted and scanned prices for a total of 60 items found that the scanner prices exceeded the shelf price 15 times, inspectors allege. One item cost less than the shelf price when it was scanned, Cocek said.

Examples of alleged overcharging included a scanner price of $9.99 for Engine Wear, which had a shelf price of $8.69; a scanner price of $2.49 for Liquid Radiator, which had a shelf price of $1.49; a scanner price of $3.99 for Armor-All car cleaner, which had a shelf price of $2.99; and a scanner price of $6.99 for Dark Car Polish, which had a shelf price of $3.49, Cocek said.

The company officials are scheduled for arraignment in Van Nuys Municipal Court on March 12.