Michigan AG Cracks Down on Five Below Over Alleged Shelf Pricing Rip-Offs Amid Holiday Shopping Frenzy

November 25, 2025 – Lansing, MI  In a stinging rebuke to discount retailer Five Below, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today that nearly 20 stores across the state stand accused of systematically overcharging customers, with products clearly marked at $5 ringing up for $6 or even $7 at the checkout. The allegations, detailed in a scathing press release, paint a picture of repeated violations that could sour the holiday shopping season for budget-conscious families just as Black Friday looms on the horizon.

The probe, spearheaded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), uncovered a whopping 30 non-compliance findings dating back to June 5, 2025. But the most egregious examples surfaced between August 3 and November 5, when officials logged more than 18 specific instances of pricing discrepancies at the register. Shoppers, lured by the chain's signature promise of "everything under $5" (a tagline that's evolved to include some higher-priced items), were allegedly hit with surprise surcharges on everyday bargains like toys, snacks, and seasonal trinkets.

"Shoppers should know the price they see on the shelf is what they will be charged, and repeated overcharging violations are unacceptable," Nessel declared in the release, emphasizing the state's zero-tolerance stance on deceptive practices. Under Michigan's Weights and Measures Act, retailers are legally bound to honor advertised prices, and failure to do so can result in fines, injunctions, or worse. This isn't just a clerical slip-up, critics say—it's a potential betrayal of trust in an era when inflation has already stretched household wallets thin.

Five Below, the Philadelphia-based chain boasting over 1,500 locations nationwide and specializing in trendy, affordable goods for tweens and teens, now faces a December 15 deadline to huddle with Nessel's office and submit a corrective action plan. Details of the violations span multiple stores, with some cited on more than one occasion, suggesting a pattern rather than isolated errors. MDARD inspectors, acting on routine compliance checks and consumer complaints, documented the mismatches during unannounced visits, highlighting everything from outdated shelf tags to scanner glitches that consistently favored the house.

As of press time, Five Below had not responded to requests for comment from the Scripps News Group, leaving customers and watchdogs in the dark about whether this is a widespread tech hiccup or something more systemic. The timing couldn't be worse: With nearly one in three Americans bracing for holiday debt, according to recent surveys, even a buck or two extra per item adds up fast in a cart full of impulse buys.

17GEN4.com