Inconsistent prices on store shelves and fiscal cash registers, exclusively to the detriment of consumers who pay a price higher than expected, is a daily phenomenon encountered by a resident of Podgorica DB
After shopping at the market in the Podgorica shopping center, he sent a photo to "Vijesta" showing that he paid almost a euro more for the Nivea aftershave balm than the price displayed on the shelf in front of the item.
When it comes to traders' mistakes in displaying prices, a total of 2.145 irregularities were determined in the current year, of which 1.828 related to improper display of price notices.
"The product is displayed with a price of 4,34 euros. Before buying, I asked the saleswoman if that was the price for that product, which she confirmed to me after checking the barcode. When paying at the cash register, the price was 5,29 euros, so I pointed out to the saleswoman that they have a different displayed price. To this I received the answer that he can only return the product if he does not want it, but he cannot give it to me at the price that is displayed on the shelf", said the reader of "Vijesti".
He also said that in this way the rights of consumers are directly violated because they are being misled, and he believes that this is being done knowingly.
"Vijesti" was also unable to get in touch with the manager of that store, because she did not answer the phone number known to the editorial office, but the workers explained that it happens that customers take a similar item with a different price and that way a mistake occurs.
Director of the Center for Consumer Protection (CEZAP) Olga Nikčević said that they receive the same complaints from consumers every day, that the phenomenon "has taken off", which is why they asked the Market Inspection to take action.
"Improper pricing is so frequent that we can no longer deal with it and the Inspection should intervene. It is not a question of a few shops, but it is done in all markets, without distinction", said Nikčević.
She reminded that for a long time the merchants took good care of highlighting the prices and that a similar action with the Market Inspection was conducted four or five years ago, but now, obviously, it is time to repeat it.
"Until now, it has never happened that Tržišna does not act on our application, but it is not an easy job because extensive action is required," she said.
However, the chief market inspector Nada Đurđić explained that they are not planning increased control because they have not noticed an increased number of complaints.
"According to the work plan, the market inspection, among other things, carries out inspection supervision over the circulation of food items in retail stores, as well as objects dealing with the circulation of consumer goods. This type of product is subject to continuous control, both according to the work plan and citizens' initiatives, so no special actions are planned," she said.
According to the data of the Market Inspection, as she pointed out, there is no increase in complaints from citizens regarding inappropriate display and accuracy of prices, i.e. that the displayed price does not correspond to the one charged to the customer through the tax register. Their inspectors, as she said, control the display of prices, the accuracy of their formation through business documentation, as well as the control of the accuracy of the price when charging through the fiscal cash register, or account.
Due to "mistakes" more than two thousand fines
Đurđić said that during this year, 41 consumer complaints were submitted to the Market Inspection due to irregularities in price marking, and of that number, 10 related to service prices, four to misleading advertising in price marking, and the rest to other "mistakes" in price marking.
"When it comes to traders' failures to display prices, in the current year a total of 2.145 irregularities were determined, of which 1.828 related to improper display of price notices, and 317 to improper display of notices of discounts and reductions," said Đurđić, adding that therefore issued 2.145 misdemeanor warrants.
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