Officials of a sales outlet and a transport company attributed it to the increase in shipping costs and the shortage of supply in the countries of origin

Consumers: The prices of gloves, cleaning tools and drinks increased by 46%

Consumers demanded that prices be returned to what they were, and heavy penalties imposed on violators.

Photography: Patrick Castillo

Consumers have reported that there are increases in the prices of certain commodities that have reached 46%, noting that these commodities, which included gloves, drinks, paper products and some cleaning tools, are witnessing an increase in demand during the current period, due to their association with the repercussions of the emerging "Corona" virus.

They told "Emirates Today": "These hikes are unjustified, and are considered an exploitation for consumers, given the need for them." They demanded that prices be returned to what they were, and heavy penalties imposed on violators with intensifying supervision.

For their part, two officials in a sales outlet and a transport company attributed these increases to the increase in shipping costs, and the shortage of supply in some countries of origin, with the resumption of closures in several countries after the virus spreads again.

In turn, the Ministry of Economy announced that although the economy in the country is free and the ministry does not interfere in determining the prices of goods, it controls prices in a way that guarantees the interest of the consumer, in the event that the markets witness unjustified high prices.

Gloves

In detail, the consumer, Amna Al Hammadi, said: “She was surprised by the high prices of one type of glove sold in major sales outlets from 32 dirhams to 39 dirhams, an increase of about 22%,” noting that the types of gloves in the market are generally limited.

She added, "The price of another type of glove increased from 18 dirhams to 28 dirhams a short time ago," stressing that it is still on the same rise, calling for the prices to be returned to what they were to deter violators.

Al-Hammadi considered that this rise is unjustified, and it is considered a kind of consumer exploitation, because consumers are in dire need of this product, given the repercussions of the Corona virus, as there is a great demand for it during the current period, especially since there is a shortage of gloves in many small groceries. They are mainly sold in major outlets.

drinks

For his part, consumer Omar Abdullah said: “He noticed during the recent period an increase in the prices of some healthy products and sugar-free drinks, especially hot ones that are currently in great demand with the repercussions of Corona and the cold weather.”

He explained that «the price of one type rose from 10.95 dirhams to 16 dirhams, an increase of 46%, and the price of another product increased from 18 to 23 dirhams, an increase of more than 27%», indicating that he has been buying these two products continuously for years, He knows the prices well.

Abdullah added, "He noticed the disappearance of a type from the market for a while, and then appeared after the increase in its price," calling for tightening control and fines for violators.

Paper products

In the same context, the consumer, Karam Mahmoud, stated that some paper products and some cleaning tools have witnessed an increase in their prices, as the selling price of one type of tissue paper increased from 17 dirhams to 20 dirhams, an increase of 17.6%, and the prices of cleaning tools increased by 17.6%. It ranged between 15 and 20% without a clear justification, as he put it.

Mahmoud considered that this increase is an exploitation of consumers ’need for such products and an increase in demand for them during the Corona pandemic, calling for prices to be returned to their previous levels, tightening of control and heavy fines for violators.

Shipping

In turn, the sales official at a major outlet in Abu Dhabi, Idris Ibrahim, said: “There are increases in the prices of imported goods, and the prices of local goods whose raw materials are imported from abroad, as a result of the high cost of shipping and transportation, in light of the resumption of closures in some countries after the virus spreads again. In addition to some countries restricting exports, which affected prices.

Countries of origin

For his part, an official in one of the transport and shipping companies, Karam Shehadeh, said that “price increases are not limited to the UAE only,” explaining that they “return to prices in the countries of origin, as a result of the current conditions that led to the shortage of supply, in addition to the high cost of shipping. Of varying proportions ».

Consumer interest

The Ministry of Economy announced, recently, that although the economy in the country is free and the ministry does not interfere in determining the prices of goods, it controls prices in a way that guarantees the interest of the consumer, in the event that the markets witness unjustified high prices.

And it stated that it dealt with 14 thousand various complaints from consumers at the state level during the past year, and carried out more than 171 thousand inspection rounds that resulted in 4000 violations, calling on consumers in all emirates of the country to contact the ministry or the competent local authorities to register any complaint, And to report any improper commercial practice related to consumer protection in the country.

She indicated that updating the legal and legislative frameworks devoted to consumer protection is an imperative to keep pace with the rapid changes that the world is witnessing today, and to face the emerging challenges and negative repercussions caused by the "Covid-19" pandemic in terms of unsound commercial practices, such as monopoly, exploiting the crisis, to raise prices. In an unjustified and exaggerated manner.

Exploitation to increase profit

An expert on retail affairs, Ibrahim Al-Bahr, said that "there is an exploitation of the increase in demand from consumers for some products to raise their prices, with the aim of increasing profit margins, in addition to an increase in the prices of shipping goods from some destinations due to global conditions."

Al-Bahr called for tightening supervision and inspections and comparing import bills and bills of materials that enter into local production, in addition to tightening penalties for violators and imposing heavy fines on them.

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«Economy» confirmed that it controls prices, in case the markets witnessed unjustified high prices.

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