Recent investigations in various supermarkets have uncovered a concerning trend regarding pricing discrepancies at checkout. Consumers have reported that many items marked with discounted or promotional prices on the shelves are often scanned at their original, higher prices when purchased.
Seema Shandil, the Chief Executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji, highlights that this issue is particularly prevalent with products nearing their expiration dates, as well as with fresh fruits, vegetables, and promotional items. Shandil emphasizes the importance of checking receipts as shoppers may inadvertently end up paying more than anticipated, thus losing the expected savings presented in-store.
“While consumers are willing to pay the price indicated on the shelf, retailers have a clear duty to ensure pricing accuracy, especially during busy festive shopping periods. The ongoing discrepancies between shelf prices and checkout prices cannot merely be brushed off as errors. The pattern we are observing raises serious concerns about the possibility of these practices being intentional, which is utterly unacceptable,” she stated.
In numerous instances, cashiers find themselves having to manually adjust the prices to reflect what was advertised. Although some retailers might claim that these inconsistencies are due to human error, the Consumer Council of Fiji asserts that the frequency and ubiquity of these pricing mismatches warrant deeper scrutiny regarding the motives behind them.
Shandil is urging shoppers to be vigilant and check their receipts diligently, particularly during bustling shopping seasons. She notes that even minor pricing differences can accumulate, resulting in substantial financial losses for families buying several items.
This issue underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in retail practices, ensuring that consumers receive fair treatment in their shopping experiences.