Different Tag Price vs. Bar Code Price

Last Sunday, I bought products from two stores that has different bar code prices against their respective tag/shelf prices. On the two cases below, I cannot allow myself to be cheated or taken advantage by a merchant, so I exercised my rights as a consumer by contesting their higher bar code prices. Why is it that if there is a discrepancy or system error, it usually works to the merchant's favor?

It started that morning in Handyman's Store at Waltermart Carmona, as I looked for a waterproofing compound for our roof, which is undergoing repair. The 4-liter waterproofing product I chose has a tag price of Php 1,645 per pail, but their bar code scan displayed a Php 1,730 price on the checkout counter. The cashier told me that the price had increased, and asked me to pay Php 1,730. 

 

I responded that according to the Price Tag law, consumer products shall be sold at their tag price or lower, not higher than the tag price. The cashier asked her supervisor for assistance, who also gave me the same alibi. I told her that as a supervisor, she should know the provisions of the Price Tag law, and that I should pay the tag price, not the higher price on their Point-Of-Sale (POS) machine. 

 

Still, the supervisor was firm on her stand for me to pay the higher price. Since I need the product badly, I replied that I would pay the Php 1,730 higher price, but she must give me her name as I would report the matter to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). That's when the supervisor's defense buckled down, and ordered the cashier to override the POS machine, to charge me Php 1,645 as indicated on the price tag.

Tsk tsk...thumbs down for Handyman in handling this matter.

That evening in Save More Supermarket at Central Mall Binan, a similar case happened, but this time with a dozen of iced tea concentrate in liter packs. There were actually two different price labels on the same rack where the iced tea concentrate are displayed, with price difference of only Php 0.45/sachet. 

Upon verifying my complaint, the male supervisor on duty removed the incorrect lower price label, then he apologized and gave me my P 5.40 refund without question. Now that is the proper way of handling such matter, turning a customer complaint into customer satisfaction.

The specific clause on the Price Tag law under Article 81, Chapter 4, Title III of the RA 7394, otherwise known as Consumer Act of 1991, reads as follows:

"ARTICLE 81. Price Tag Requirement - It shall be unlawful to offer any consumer product for retail sale to the public without an appropriate price tag, label or marking publicly displayed to indicate the price of each article and said products shall not be sold at a price higher than that stated therein and without discrimination to all buyers."

Consumer rights knowledge and implementation in the Philippines is still on its infancy. We may have the right laws, yet we are still weak on the implementation. Minimum penalty in price tag law violation is too low, starting at Php 200 only. Another factor is the passive, shy, or non-confrontational character of most Pinoys. That is why some greedy shop owners manage to get away with such unethical practices in violating the consumer laws.

To download a copy of the RA 7394 or the Consumer Act, plus related amendments including the non-expiry of paid gift checks, click here.