Add 'sticks' in commodity price management

(Baonghean) - Decree 49/2016/ND-CP, which includes regulations on handling administrative violations in the field of price management, effective from August 1, 2016, will be the basis for tightening the management of commodity prices in the market.

Retailers list prices perfunctorily

According to regulations, all types of goods sold on the market must have their prices listed. In terms of form, prices are listed in places where consumers can easily see them (on the product or on a price board, with detailed listed prices). However, in reality, except for shopping malls with modern standards and large supermarkets that list prices and sell at the correct listed prices, many stores still list prices perfunctorily.

Non-compliance with regulations on posting prices of goods is common in markets (photo taken at Vinh Railway Station market)

The situation of not posting prices also exists quite a lot in grocery stores. At a grocery store on Phan Canh Quang Street (Ha Huy Tap Ward), when we asked to buy a box of Vinamilk powdered milk, the seller brought it out and put the price on the box.

The situation of not posting prices is also quite common in markets; from large traditional markets in the city to rural markets, very few stalls selling items such as clothes, shoes, plastic products... have listed prices. According to traders, goods sold in the market with listed prices are as good as not having them.

Ms. Hong, the owner of a clothing stall at Vinh Railway Station Market, said: Due to the habit of people buying goods, we cannot sell at the listed price even if we list the price. Therefore, most traders in the markets are "afraid" of listing. Even buyers and sellers do not care whether the goods are listed or not. Therefore, some items are priced by the sellers themselves, while buyers still have the habit of buying goods in a "willing buyer, willing seller" manner.

The current situation of business owners not following the regulations on price listing, not only causes consumers to suffer when buying goods at incorrect prices, but also directly affects the business activities of small traders. Because, once goods are not listed, customers have no basis to compare and choose a reasonable purchase price; at the same time, it leads to unhealthy competition between businesses. In the long term, it also seriously affects retail business activities in traditional markets, consumers will gradually switch to using goods at supermarkets and large wholesalers.

Some shop owners still often list prices perfunctorily when customers ask to buy.

Inadequate management

The public posting of prices at markets and shops has been regulated by law, helping to improve the business environment and protect consumer rights. However, the limited awareness of business owners (especially in markets) and the habit of bargaining and not paying attention to listed prices of most consumers today have inadvertently created conditions for business owners to "ignore" the regulations on posting prices of goods.

On the other hand, market management in the field of prices still has many shortcomings. Although every year, the Market Management force conducts inspections and handles business establishments in the field of prices. In 2015, 856 cases of price posting violations were handled. Of which, 141 cases were warned, 517 cases were administratively fined with a total fine of over 206 million VND. Since the beginning of the year, the Market Management force has handled 263 cases, of which 62 cases were warned; 201 cases were administratively fined with a total fine of 80 million VND. However, compared to other violations, the number of cases handled in price posting is small.

Most goods at Vinh market do not have listed prices.

Therefore, Decree 49/2016/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 109/2013/ND-CP on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of price, fee, charge and invoice management, effective from August 1, 2016, will increase the level of penalties for not posting prices, which will be the basis for goods management, bringing commercial activities into a more open, transparent and convenient framework for consumers. The problem is that currently, business people do not understand the provisions of the law, so they do not know and do not comply. Relevant agencies have not yet taken measures to support information to the people.

Dinh Nguyet