<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Jan 24, 2009
'TIME-HONOURED' TRADITION
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Unethical to jack up prices during CNY
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->WITH the momentum of Chinese New Year preparations almost at its peak, I would like to highlight a somewhat time-honoured tradition in Singapore - the practice of raising prices or slapping on festive season surcharges over and above the listed prices of goods and services.
Over the years, Singaporeans have come to accept as the norm such festive surcharges or the practice of raising prices progressively as the date of the festival draws nearer.
Such business practices are unethical and unreasonable.
Having travelled fairly extensively, I understand that such business practices are not permissible, and indeed are practically unheard of, in other countries where I have lived or visited.
In Hong Kong, where I lived and worked, and still visit regularly, my friends were shocked when I told them that the prices of bak kwa (barbecued pork), across several different brands, are raised progressively as Chinese New Year approaches.
They tell me this is certainly not practised in Hong Kong, and as far as they know, it is not only unethical but also against the law.
But in Singapore, hairdressing salons and even barber shops, and a range of other businesses, raise their prices or include surcharges in the weeks before major festivals, particularly Chinese New Year.
No doubt businesses will cite high costs during festive seasons as the key reason for surcharges or inflated prices. But this should be factored into their annual business plan, given that any business is sustained over a period of time.
Such unethical practices are merely a barely concealed attempt to exploit festive shoppers eager to spend.
Why then do Singaporeans, as educated and evolved as we are, accept such business practices so blindly?
Why do we accept such practices as the norm, or at least tolerate them in silence, when it really is time to question the status quo?
Whatever the festive occasion, whether in economic boom or downturn, listed prices should be honoured.
It is time the Consumers Association of Singapore stepped in to investigate and correct such practices, once and for all.
Calvin Cheng <!-- end of for each --><!-- Current Ratings : start --><!-- Current Ratings : end --><!-- vbbintegration : start -->
'TIME-HONOURED' TRADITION
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Unethical to jack up prices during CNY
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->WITH the momentum of Chinese New Year preparations almost at its peak, I would like to highlight a somewhat time-honoured tradition in Singapore - the practice of raising prices or slapping on festive season surcharges over and above the listed prices of goods and services.
Over the years, Singaporeans have come to accept as the norm such festive surcharges or the practice of raising prices progressively as the date of the festival draws nearer.
Such business practices are unethical and unreasonable.
Having travelled fairly extensively, I understand that such business practices are not permissible, and indeed are practically unheard of, in other countries where I have lived or visited.
In Hong Kong, where I lived and worked, and still visit regularly, my friends were shocked when I told them that the prices of bak kwa (barbecued pork), across several different brands, are raised progressively as Chinese New Year approaches.
They tell me this is certainly not practised in Hong Kong, and as far as they know, it is not only unethical but also against the law.
But in Singapore, hairdressing salons and even barber shops, and a range of other businesses, raise their prices or include surcharges in the weeks before major festivals, particularly Chinese New Year.
No doubt businesses will cite high costs during festive seasons as the key reason for surcharges or inflated prices. But this should be factored into their annual business plan, given that any business is sustained over a period of time.
Such unethical practices are merely a barely concealed attempt to exploit festive shoppers eager to spend.
Why then do Singaporeans, as educated and evolved as we are, accept such business practices so blindly?
Why do we accept such practices as the norm, or at least tolerate them in silence, when it really is time to question the status quo?
Whatever the festive occasion, whether in economic boom or downturn, listed prices should be honoured.
It is time the Consumers Association of Singapore stepped in to investigate and correct such practices, once and for all.
Calvin Cheng <!-- end of for each --><!-- Current Ratings : start --><!-- Current Ratings : end --><!-- vbbintegration : start -->
