The Scanner Price Accuracy Code is a Canadian retail voluntary practice managed by the Retail Council of Canada and endorsed by the Competition Bureau. It was introduced in June 2002 as Canadian retailers were in the midst of updating their point-of-sale systems with barcode readers to “foster consumer confidence” with the new systems.

Full disclosure: I didn’t just learn about this today. I did just learn that it didn’t exist until 2002 which seems pretty late to start using barcodes.

Anyway, I have noticed a lot of stores have dropped out of the program or are bending the rules about what a posted price actually means (like if the price tag is on the shelf under the thing instead of actually on the thing). Sure, none of this is legally required — but still — don’t let them take this from you.