Consumers said that there are pages on social networking sites that sell sterilizers, disinfectants, and masks, at prices that exceed their prices in outlets in local markets, at rates of more than 1000%, considering that this is misleading to consumers, and using the Corona pandemic to raise prices.
Two merchants explained on the communication sites, for «Emirates Today», that the difference in prices may be due to the difference in the materials used, or the degree of concentration in relation to a particular sterilizer, or the presence of a slight, unclear difference between brands.
For its part, the Emirates Society for Consumer Protection called on consumers to compare prices and quality before purchasing, while adopting a consumer culture that enables consumers to choose according to need.
A significant increase
In detail, the consumer Ahmed Al Hosani said that he bought from one of the pages on social media a type of sterilizer, described as a viral sterilizer for all personal uses, surfaces, cars and steam sterilizers, for a price of 99 dirhams for a capacity of five liters, including delivery fees.
He added that he went to one of the markets in the country later, and found the same sterilizer in the same brand and the same weight sold at 8.15 dirhams, meaning that the sterilizer price on the website exceeds its market price by a very large rate exceeding 1114%.
Al-Hosani considered this as misleading consumers by some merchants who seek to achieve high profits, by taking advantage of consumers' eagerness to buy the supplies necessary to protect against the Corona virus.
Support oversight
The consumer, Khaled Abdullah, said that he was quick to buy a disinfectant from one of the social media pages at 34 dirhams, after he read about his efficacy in disinfection, but stated that after 10 days, the disinfectant found coincidence with the same weight and the same brand was sold at a local outlet at 13.35 Dirhams, meaning that its price on communication sites exceeds the outlet by about 154.6%.
Abdullah agreed with Al-Hosani that what is happening is misleading and exploiting the need of consumers for sterilizers and antiseptics, and that they purchase large quantities of them during the current period, pointing to the need to support the monitoring of communication sites as it has become one of the important markets today, while tightening penalties for merchants who raise prices to exploit the pandemic .
commitment
In the same context, the consumer, Asma Saleh, said that she bought masks through a communication site at a price of 140 dirhams for 50 pieces, but she later found them in one of the local sales outlets at a price of 68 dirhams, meaning that the price increases in the communication sites by 106%, and then found It has a discount at another outlet, as it bought it for 59 dirhams instead of 140 dirhams.
She added that some of the merchants on the communication sites are taking advantage of consumers ’eagerness to purchase anti-corona supplies in order to raise their prices, noting that they have observed a commitment by a large number of sales outlets at specified prices, after intense control campaigns and the penalties imposed on violators.
Degree of focus
For his part, one of the merchants on the communication websites (GTA) said that the price at which the goods are sold on the communication sites is with a "reasonable" profit margin, but he acknowledged that the price difference is in some cases between the price of the sites and the outlets in the market, Noting that there may be a difference in the degree of concentration with regard to the sterilizer, or a slight, unclear difference between brands.
Another dealer reported on the communication sites (HS), that there is a difference in some cases between the prices on the sites and the outlets, which may be due to several factors, including the profit margin, the difference in the materials used, or the degree of concentration with the sterilizers or others, stressing the importance of acquiring Traders "communicate" consumer confidence, in order to support this trade which he described as the trade of the future.
price comparison
In turn, the President of the Emirates Society for Consumer Protection, Mohammed Khalifa Al Muhairi, called on consumers to compare prices and quality before buying, while adopting a consumer culture that enables consumers to choose according to need, pointing out that sales outlets diversify in their services and consumer products in terms of quality and type. And the price.
Al-Muhairi said that the distinguished consumer culture, which is based on comparisons between prices and quality before buying, is the best way that enables the consumer and helps him to reach the smart buying style instead of random, indicating that this choice pays its success, by obtaining the appropriate goods without Fraud, or wrongful, improper selection.
He added that if consumers provide a smart purchasing model based on choice and comparison, they voluntarily require merchants to ensure that goods are provided with high specifications, great quality, and competitive prices.
Planning
Al-Muhairi stressed that it is important for all consumers to follow the method of planning before buying, as there is no place to buy various types of goods without discrimination, especially that this method will have significant consequences in the end, whether on the budget of the family that is affected negatively, or in terms of the presence An excess of goods that are destroyed or expire, and whose fate is in the litter boxes, and may cause serious health damage, which is what we call purchasing ignorance.
He pointed out that sales outlets offer different offers at competitive prices, so it is important for the consumer to view these offers and write them down in his list of needs before buying, and through this list he can quickly compare prices and make smart decisions.
Warning
The Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, Dr. Hashem Al-Nuaimi, warned against wrong business practices that violate the Consumer Protection Law and its implementing regulations, which are being carried out by some pages on social media, such as raising unjustified prices and practicing commercial fraud.
Al-Nuaimi said that carrying out these practices, which represent an unauthorized exploitation of consumers, requires that the pages of these merchants be closed immediately if it is proven that they raise the prices of commodities unjustifiably.
Emirates Consumer Protection calls for price and quality comparison before buying.