Responsible sales: The absence of the original price does not mean that the sales are minimal

Consumers are required to compel sales outlets to write the original price of goods during "offers"

Consumers considered the behavior of some outlets to deny them the right to know the original price.

Photography: Ahmed Arditi

Consumers demanded to compel sales outlets and cooperative societies to write the original price of goods in special offers, and not just write the price during the offer period, pointing out that sales outlets ignore writing the original price of the commodity before the offer.

They called on the supervisory authorities to monitor the market and oblige the sales outlets to write the two prices "before and after the offer", and leave the consumer free to make a purchase decision.

In turn, a sales official said that there is a difference between discounts and special offers, stressing that not writing the original price on the commodity does not mean that the reduction percentage is small, as there are special offers with discounts of up to 40% and the original price is not written on them.

And he attributed the failure to write the original price to the existence of large quantities of special offers, especially on weekends, and the need for a large number of employees.

Consumer reviews

In detail, consumer Jalal Abdullah said that there are sales outlets that ignore writing the original price of the commodity in the special offers, and only write the price during the offer period, especially in the event of small discounts.

And Abdullah considered that behavior to deprive the consumer of the right to know the original price, and to compare the two prices before and during the offer, to make the purchase decision.

He mentioned that he bought paper napkins as part of an offer at a price of 40 dirhams, only to discover that their original price in another outlet without an offer was 42 dirhams, pointing out that the price difference was small, and if he knew their original price, he would not have bought them.

In turn, the consumer, Hoda Salem, called for compelling sales outlets to write the two prices on the commodity (before and during the offer), so that the consumer can compare between the two prices, stressing that knowing the price of the commodity before the offer is one of the simplest consumer rights that must be respected.

Salem explained that she bought a kind of perfume for 120 dirhams as part of a special offer, but she was surprised that its original price was 115 dirhams, noting that some outlets were content to write a "special offer" on some goods so that consumers would accept to buy them as they greatly reduced the price. Being the opposite.

As for the consumer, Ramadan Abdul Jalil, he said that he bought a food commodity within a special offer for 30 dirhams, and found the same commodity in another outlet for 31.5 dirhams without an offer.

He explained that the word "special offer" attracts some consumers, and makes them believe that it is significantly reduced, which requires the regulatory authorities to carefully monitor the market, obligate sales outlets to write the two prices (before and after the offer), and leave the freedom to make the decision to the consumer to buy or not.

Discounts and offers

In addition, the sales official at a point of sale, Jamsherdelan, said that there is a difference between the discounts and special offers, as there is a commitment on the part of the sales outlets to clarify the price before, after and during the sales, but some outlets do not commit to setting the original price of the commodity in the special offers.

He continued: "Not writing the original price on the commodity does not mean that the reduction percentage is small. There are special offers that have large discounts of more than 30%, but the original price is not always written."

In the same context, the official at another outlet, Othman Ismail, confirmed that there is a large percentage of special offers that are reduced at rates of up to 40%, pointing out that some sales outlets do not set the original prices in the event of large quantities of special offers, especially in Weekends, as it takes great efforts and a large number of employees.

“The Economy”: inspection campaigns

The Ministry of Economy stated earlier, that all sales outlets and cooperative societies must set prices before the offer, regardless of the rates of reduction, in the context of the right to provide the consumer with facts that help him buy and consume properly.

The ministry explained at the time that the local economic departments were conducting intensive inspection campaigns to verify that the offers were actually reduced, and that the rates of discounts matched the rates agreed upon by the departments in the permits for conducting special offers.

Sea: Knowing the original price is a fundamental right of the consumer

Retail expert Ibrahim Al-Bahr said that all sales outlets should be obligated to write the price of the commodity preceding the offer and its price during the offer in one sign, and in clear handwriting, so that there is credibility to these offers, indicating that some offers are really strong and worth buying, given that Because there is a significant difference between the original prices and the offer.

Al-Bahr warned that not being obligated to write the original price encourages some sales outlets to deceive the consumer, by making marginal discounts or fake offers, which offends the idea of ​​the offers as a whole, stressing that the consumer has the primary right to know the original price of the commodity, demanding tight control and taking strict measures against others Committed.

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