Special offers - reduced prices

From a consumer's point of view, special offers involving price reductions are always welcome. Indeed last Sunday, yet again, I referred to the prices of wines and ice-creams encouraging consumers to write to me naming outlets that have actually reduced prices of wines and ice-creams imported from other EU member countries, thus reflecting the removal of the import levy with effect from May 1, when we joined the EU.

I explained that, considering that we are operating in a liberalised market place, there is no price control. Unfortunately, many outlets did not reduce their prices to reflect the removal of the import levy. Therefore, the onus is on us consumers to boycott such outlets while, on the other hand, taking our custom to those outlets that reduce their prices accordingly. Traders can then compete with each other to win our custom.

I must yet again encourage you to share information through our column. Indeed, while traders exploit the prevailing liberalised market place to their benefit, we owe it to ourselves to reciprocate by boycotting those outlets and restaurants whose prices do not reflect the removal of the import levy and take our custom to those outlets and restaurants that reduced their prices.