Stores caught for overpricing Xmas goods

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that 8 supermarkets were selling a number of Noche Buena products above their suggested retail prices.

Show-cause orders were served to the following supermartkets:

• Purity Supermarket and Walter Mart Supermarket on E. Rodriguez in Quezon City
• Daily Supermarket in Cubao
• Welcome Supermarket in Rotonda, Quezon City 
• Metro Supermarket in Taguig
• Mightee Mart in Sta. Cruz, Manila
• Shopwise in Pasong Tamo, Makati
• Cash & Carry in Makati 
• Puregold in Delpan, Makati.

According to Vic Dimagiba, officer-in-charge of the DTI consumer welfare and trade regularion group, DTI monitoring of supermarkets led to these findings.

Dimagiba added that the price increase looked intentional, as the stores quickly rolled back prices when they were caught, pointing towards a lack of basis for the increases. Dimagiba also said consumers have the right to demand refunds.

These stores could face fines that start at P5,000.

Among the products monitored were Noche Buena staples like ham, fruit cocktails, cheese and sandwich spreads, keso de bola, pasta, spaghetti, and macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and cream.

Nine retailers were also served notices for selling Christmas lights without the required marking or labels.

The retailers served were:

• Finds Department Store in Alabang 
• Fairest of Thousand Merchandising, Hugo’s Home Décor General Merchandise, Classic Handicraft and Eight Treasures Handicraft and Field Art Craft in Greenhils 
• Munison Trading, Mavreha Merchandising Store, and Hope-sun General Merchandising Store in Baclaran

A total of 2,914 sets of Christmas lights of different brands were confiscated and destroyed in the operation. These stores face fines from P150,000 up to P1 million. – Rappler.com