Tricking People, Checking Prices

The prices of all goods and foods keep rising daily. The profiteers in this country are taking full advantage, especially when most intelligent people are aware new shipments of goods, such as irons, kettles, washing machines, TVs etc., have not come through for some time.  Driving past a so-called duty-free shop type of place I could see right into the shop, which was displaying its goods and nobody scrambling to shop in there. 

Some time ago, I bought an iron of a well-known brand for Rs 4500.00. Two weeks ago the iron conked.  I asked a friend to check on the price of a similar iron for me.  I was informed that it was Rs. 18,500.00.  When I went to purchase the iron, I was told that there was a price change and it cost  Rs. 24,000.00.  It is common knowledge that the Shop had not received new stocks for the past few months or couple of years but the Shop decided to take advantage of the current monetary crisis and profit hugely by fleecing its customers.  I was shown of an unheard-of brand from China for Rs. 4500.00, which I purchased and Mangala has confirmed that it does as good a job as the fancy branded iron she used previously.   

Walking into supermarkets is quite spooky since many of the shelves are bare.  It is a common sight to see people checking prices of each item they intend to purchase and place some back on the shelves as the prices are prohibitive and not within budget. 

When in the shop, I observed that the prices of items were phenomenal. It made me realise that the shop owner only wished to profit at any given opportunity.  However, there are a few merchants around who are yet happy to sell items at the original price with the caveat that the next shipment, if it does come in, will be at an increased price.  Believe me, these outlets are exceedingly rare.

Walking into supermarkets is quite spooky since many of the shelves are bare.  It is a common sight to see people checking prices of each item they intend to purchase and place some back on the shelves as the prices are prohibitive and not within budget. Ahead of me at the checkout I spotted a lady, obviously a diaspora returnee, who had taken two of the larger trolleys and packed them to the brim and looking pleased as punch.  When she was told what her cost was, she looked as if the cashier had punched her in the face. The dame must have been in Colombo four years ago and probably thought she would be paying next to nothing for the two trollies like she did then. Fortunately, she took a deep breath, flung a card out and settled her due.  I overheard her blackguarding about the unaffordable prices in Colombo, especially the local produce, and that if she bought the same stuff back home, she would have paid one third the price. A good lesson for all of us to check on the price before tossing the item into the cart or else be prepared for a heart attack when the bill is produced.

Thankfully, the Asia Cup Cricket matches are quite the distraction from these dreary times.