Five Below Caught Overcharging in 18+ Michigan Stores

If you thought holiday shopping in Michigan couldn't get any more chaotic, surprise!  The Michigan Attorney General (AG) just called out Five Below for allegedly charging above $5 for items clearly labeled — you guessed it — $5. Bold strategy. Let's see how it worked out for them.

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What the Michigan AG Found

AG Dana Nessel issued a notice of intended action after nearly 20 Michigan Five Below stores racked up 30 pricing violations since June 2025. Scanner overcharges, missing price labels, and the classic "that'll be two dollars more than you thought" routine have apparently become part of everyday business.

Five Below’s Response: Promises vs Reality

And get this: Five Below said they'd fix it months ago. They promised audits, staff training, and price verification — all the corporate buzzwords that mean, "We'll totally get around to that." Yet, according to a release from the AG's office, from August to early November, Michigan's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) inspectors still found 18+ instances of $5 items magically becoming $6 or $7 at checkout. Inflation? No. Fiveflation.

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October alone saw overcharges at eight stores. Eight. At this point, Michigan shoppers should probably bring calculators, spreadsheets, and maybe a trained auditor of their own if they're looking to get a fair deal at Five Below.

Deadline for Action: December 15

Nessel, clearly over it, reminded retailers that the price on the shelf should match the price at the register — a revolutionary concept, truly. MDARD Director Tim Boring chimed in too, reminding everyone to "pay attention to pricing," which is a polite government way of saying: Don't get played at the register, Michigan.

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Five Below now has until December 15 to sit down with the state and sort it out. If not? Litigation. Fines. The whole festive package. Because nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a pricing investigation.