Consumers are demanding a cap on the purchase of goods

Consumers demanded major sales outlets and cooperative societies in the country to set a maximum limit for the purchase of goods, especially basic and consumer food commodities, which are widely accepted by traders.

They pointed out that the most commodities that consumers buy in huge quantities today are: bread, meat, poultry, sugar, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, dairy products, and some varieties of vegetables and fruits, along with some consumer goods, such as: soap, disinfectants, paper napkins, and toilet paper.

Dealers and outlets officials told «Emirates Today» that there are currently no restrictions on purchases, but they are working to implement systems for accounting funds to limit the purchase of exaggerated quantities from consumers, noting that they interfere when necessary.

In turn, the Ministry of Economy confirmed that the establishment of a maximum purchase limit for some goods is due to the policy and desire of the salesman himself.

sale points

In detail, the consumer, Reem Al Katheeri, called for major sales outlets and cooperative societies in the country to put a maximum limit on the purchase of some commodities. She said, "Some shelves and refrigerators are empty, because of the purchase of excessive quantities."

She pointed out that the commodities that are in demand are: all kinds of bread, poultry, meat and rice, as well as soap, tissue paper and toilet paper.

The consumer, Abdel-Rahman Obaid, called for the necessity of setting a maximum limit for the purchase of some commodities, especially basic and consumer food commodities, indicating that he found blank bread racks and poultry refrigerators in one of the outlets yesterday.

And the consumer, Hussam Ghazi, agreed with him on the necessity of setting a maximum limit for the purchase of some commodities, especially the basic commodities that each household needs.

The consumer, Abdullah Hassan, added that he noticed consumers buying large quantities of food commodities and sterilization materials, while making some of these commodities less or disappear from the selling shelves.

The consumer, Ibrahim Abdel-Razek, stressed that it is important to enter the sales outlets to prevent exaggerated purchases and establish regulatory frameworks.

The consumer, Majed Samir, pointed out that the establishment of regulatory controls to limit the purchase provides a balance in providing the needs of all consumers.

There are no restrictions

For his part, Nanda Kumar, a spokesperson for the state's Lulu Hypermarket group, said that "there are no general restrictions on purchases in Lulu stores, especially of food commodities for ordinary consumers."

He explained that the departments of the outlets affiliated with the "Lulu", intervened during the recent period, to stop some cases of purchase when reaching the payment boxes, where some groceries employees who buy huge quantities for resale, both electronically and in groceries, were noticed, and we also noted that some people buy quantities Huge months, and exceed the limits of natural consumption to storage.

An official at one of the major outlets, Rahman Muhammad, said that "until now, there are no restrictions on purchasing," noting that as long as the goods are available in large quantities in the stores, there is no justification for imposing a maximum purchase limit, adding that "the workers in the outlet are following Shelves continuously ».

In turn, the Director of Marketing and Happiness Department in the "Union Cooperative", Suhail Al Bastaki, said that "(the cooperative) does not put limits on the quantities of purchase for consumers, except in face mask products only, which should not exceed one carton for each consumer, while consumers are entitled to purchase Enough of basic food or consumer goods. ” He pointed out that "the current circumstances may make it difficult to determine a certain number of goods for each consumer, so that he does not mistake that there is any problem in storage."

He added that «the cooperative’s administration follows other mechanisms focused on monitoring and following up the accounting funds through supervisors, in order to prevent any groceries from exploiting the conditions to buy goods and re-sell them at high prices, as well as stopping and determining any purchases from consumers of goods in large amounts that are exaggerated.

He explained that «the cooperative has a stock of food and consumer goods in its warehouse for more than six months, in addition to ongoing supply contracts with the supply companies, whether for vegetables and fruits or for other food commodities».

Follow-ups

For his part, Affan Al-Khoury, the executive director of Markets for Retail Centers, said that it is “difficult to apply current determinations of consumer purchases of goods, but there are intensive follow-up operations to accounting funds, to stop any purchases of large amounts of excessive amounts, whether from consumers, or To prevent any attempts by grocery owners to purchase goods in bulk in order to trade them. ”

He added that «the centers monitored the operations of the largest demand for liquid sterilization materials for hands and detergents, which is considered normal in the current conditions», indicating that «the centers have a large stock of food commodities in warehouses, in addition to contracts and long-term agreements with the supply companies, with the distinction of the state’s markets "There is a lot of food stocks in stock."

Al-Khoury called for «the importance of avoiding negative consumer practices to store goods, with the possibility of these goods being rapidly damaged, and that consumers will not benefit from them».

Accounting funds

In turn, the general manager of the "Ajman Markets" Association, Sami Muhammad Shaaban, said that "the association has a follow-up of the accounting funds, to monitor and stop any purchases of large and exaggerated quantities from any consumer, or from a grocery dealer trying to buy to resell the goods at higher prices." Indicating that "it is currently difficult to determine a certain number of goods for each consumer, in light of the current circumstances."

He pointed out that «the association’s outlets stock of food commodities includes large quantities sufficient for a period that exceeds four months, in addition to the availability of a stock of vegetable and fruit commodities».

Shaaban added, “Storing and storing household goods is one of the negative consumer habits that expose consumers to financial losses, as a result of those commodities being damaged, especially vegetables and fruit varieties that need specific storage conditions.”

In the same context, Rashid Bin Howiden, director of supply and merchandise promotion at the Sharjah Cooperative, said that “a number of consumers are going to buy in large quantities, due to wrong consumer practices”, indicating that the cooperative has enough food commodities, in addition to supply agreements With the supplying companies, ensuring that no food commodities are missing. ”

Howden demanded that consumers not buy goods for the purpose of storing them and storing them in homes, thus putting those goods at risk.

Limit

In turn, the director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, Dr. Hashem Al-Nuaimi, said that "the issue of setting a maximum limit for the purchase of some commodities is due to the policy and desire of the salesman himself in the first place", noting that the outlets are the ones that determine the procurement mechanisms, according to the offer And the quantity of the commodity stored with it.

Al-Naimi confirmed that there is an abundance of food commodities, and there are stocks of various commodities at the outlets that are sufficient for months, in addition to that the import operations are open.

Storage leads to damage to the goods

The head of the Consumer Cooperative Union, Majed Hamad Rahma Al Shamsi, confirmed the availability of commodity stocks of the main food and strategic commodities and cooperative goods among the various cooperative societies in the country, pointing to the cooperatives ’full readiness to deal with the precautionary measures and measures taken by the government to confront the Corona virus (as a benefit -19).

Al-Shamsi called on consumers to refrain from crowding out in the markets, and not to store goods, indicating that storage leads to damage to goods and not benefit from them.

He noted that cooperatives operate as usual without changing their working hours according to licenses issued by local authorities in the emirate.

He emphasized that the online selling services are witnessing a significant increase now compared to the previous period, which may lead to an increase in the delivery period of goods in some cases.

Available items

Retail expert Ibrahim Al-Bahr advised consumers not to resort to storage, especially since goods are available, warning that storage is overburdening household budgets and cost them significant financial burdens, noting that consumers can buy their needs for a period of two or three weeks at most, in order to reduce the exit, in compliance with instructions The government in this regard.

He stressed that the sales outlets in the country are very widespread, and there is the farthest shopping center, three kilometers away from the largest, in addition to the availability of electronic shopping applications for 24 hours to serve consumers.

Bread, meat, poultry, sugar, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, dairy, and disinfectants are consumer priorities.