Consumers reported changes in the prices of food and consumer goods, in large outlets with branches in a number of emirates of the country, during short periods, not exceeding a week, without price offers on them.
They explained to “Emirates Today” that many of these goods are characterized by their demand by consumers, considering that this constitutes misleading and exploitation of consumers, and also makes them lose confidence in these outlets.
On the other hand, two officials at two sales outlets said that the differences in these cases are usually not large, and they attributed them to fluctuations in the prices of some operations related to goods, such as supply chains, internal transportation and storage operations, as well as competition, the desire to increase sales, and mistakes by outlet employees.
Original prices
In detail, the consumer, Ghassan Ismail, said that he noticed changes in the original prices of food and consumer goods, which are in demand by consumers, within short periods, not exceeding a week, without price offers.
He explained that a large outlet offered, for example, one of its famous types of paper napkins at a price of 15.90 dirhams, without an offer, and was surprised the following week by offering the same type and size.
The same price was 16.95 dirhams, and another outlet offered a type of cheese at 35.95 dirhams per kilogram, without an offer, and then was surprised that the price of the same type jumped to 37.95 dirhams, a few days later.
He described this as something “unjustified” and considered exploitation of consumers, even if the difference between the two prices was a few dirhams, wondering about the justifications for changing the price within short periods.
The consumer, Heba Qassem, said that she noticed changes in the prices of consumer goods, up and down, in large outlets with branches in a number of emirates of the country, within short periods, not exceeding a week, without price offers.
She explained that a large outlet offered a set of utensils at a price of 350 dirhams, and when she visited the outlet the following week, she found the same set from the same brand and the same number of pieces at a price of 363 dirhams. An outlet also offered earphones at a price of 300 dirhams, then the price was reduced the following week directly to 290. A dirham.
She described this as “incomprehensible and unjustified,” and considered exploitation of consumers. She wondered about the reasons for this, noting that this made her lose confidence in the sales outlet, because this may be repeated in other goods.
The consumer, Sayed Yahya, said that he noticed changes in the prices of food and consumer goods, up and down, in large outlets, within a very short period not exceeding a week.
He added that an outlet offered hair shampoo at a price of 22 dirhams, without a price quote, but he found its price in the same outlet a few days later at 24.50 dirhams. He also found the price of a hand lotion, sold at a price of 40 dirhams, and the following week at a price of 38.95 dirhams, in addition to the occurrence of fluctuations. Several increases in the prices of vegetables and fruits, of the same type and origin, most of which are on the upward trend. He agreed that this was unjustified, and would make him lose confidence in the executor.
Price fluctuation
In turn, the official in one of the major sales outlets, Idris Ibrahim, said that the differences in such cases are usually not large, and he attributed them to fluctuations in the prices of some operations related to the goods, such as supply chains, internal transportation operations, and storage, as well as competition conditions. In the market.
The official at one of the sales outlets, Ali Dawoud, agreed with Ibrahim, and added that imported vegetables and fruits are the most vulnerable to this happening, as the conditions of supply differ, and the supplier from the same country differs, in addition to the possibility of a shortage occurring in some crops, as a result of sudden weather conditions or imposition. Export bans, etc., which affects prices at sales outlets.
He pointed out that it should not be ruled out that this may happen in some goods as a result of errors by junior employees, such as writing prices incorrectly, mixing prices between goods, or not updating prices.
Loss of confidence
For his part, retail affairs expert, Davey Negbal, said, “Such practices make the consumer gradually lose confidence in the outlet, especially since the UAE is characterized by the presence of many alternatives in light of the large number of outlets and the intense competition between them.”
He called on the outlets to bear some of the additional costs that may be due to temporary circumstances, such as supply, internal transportation, etc., and not to pass them on to the consumer, if they are urgent and short-term circumstances, explaining that the large profits of the outlets allow this.
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