With regard to the article “How supermarkets deceive shoppers” (Apr. 5), the Ministry of Commerce should fix a maximum retail price (MRP) beyond which any store in the Kingdom cannot sell a particular item. Then in this case if the discount is displayed, it should be calculated based on the MRP. Customers can complain to the ministry if they feel that they have been cheated. In Saudi Arabia there is no price displayed on the label or package of goods and prices vary from store to store. Wasiff, Online response II. Vigilance is needed when shopping in supermarkets. I think that the Ministry of Commerce should have a complaints box in each supermarket in the Kingdom so that customers can alert the ministry to issues which require proper monitoring and action. Also I would suggest that all shoppers crosscheck their receipts against the actual prices of the commodities purchased before leaving the premises of the supermarket. Once deceived customer, Online response III. Thank you for posting this beautiful article. This is exactly what is happening and I have been the victim of some of these nasty tricks of big supermarkets. I feel sorry for those people who do not seem to care about checking the prices of the goods that they buy. Their trolleys are piled so high with groceries that they cannot remember the price of each item. E. T., Online response IV. I did my shopping in Najran on Apr. 2 and the vegetables which were marked on the shelf showed a different price from the price that I was charged. I was in a hurry and so I did not noticed what had happened until I reached home. But I felt cheated. The beetroots, for example, were advertised at SR 8 per kilo, but I was charged SR 10.95. I live in Sultanaha which is more than two hours away from the supermarket so it is not worth going back. However, I have kept my receipt and when I return next month for my monthly shopping, I will bring the matter to the attention of whomever is in charge. Roni, Online response
