7‑Eleven and Circle K often fail to honor advertised prices, investigation finds

Guardian investigators have found that America’s largest convenience‑store chains, 7‑Eleven and Circle K, frequently fail to honor advertised prices, charging customers more at the pump and register for gas, snacks and other items. The report highlights a pattern of overcharging that occurs across multiple locations, raising concerns about consumer protection amid rising living costs.

One example involved Marco Cruz, who pulled into a Circle K in McAllen, Texas, 12 miles north of the US‑Mexico border at 1.20 am on a mild November night in 2025. Seeking a bedtime snack, he selected a pack of beef and jalapeño cheese sticks priced at $3.99 on the shelf, but the cashier rang the item up at $4.19. When Cruz asked the employee to honor the lower price, the cashier refused and threatened to call the police if he persisted. Cruz left the store and later filed a complaint with the Texas attorney general.