It is indeed disillusioning to see the plight of consumer exploitation in the markets of Pakistan. The consumer exploitation in the markets seems to be undergoing an unprecedented increase in multiple domains such as sale of goods and services, consumer bargaining, product information, discounts and other promotional offers.
A notable scenario of consumer exploitation with regard to sale of goods and services is worthwhile to be mentioned in the context of purchase of grocery by a customer at Rahat Bakers and Departmental Store in Lahore. It is indeed unfortunate to mention that recently a customer at Rahat Bakers was provided a fake currency note as a change of payment made for some edibles. To make matters worse, the sales representative staff reverted in denial when the consumer showed the fake currency note to the store’s manager provided to her for payment of edibles bought. On being interrogated by the store’s manager, the cashier refused to accept the claim of providing a fake currency note as a change of payment to the customer.
The aforementioned scenario elicits an instance of consumer exploitation, which impedes an effective relationship building between a customer and a seller. Such a scenario is a bottleneck in strengthening trust and confidence between a consumer and a seller. The management of Rahat Bakers urgently needs to address such grave issues arising at their stores for restoring trust and satisfaction between a customer and a seller. In addition, there stands a dire need to establish and implement a stringent mechanism to address issues of consumer exploitation in the consumer market. There should be a self-regulatory mechanism, which should aim to eliminate the aspects of deception, falsehood and other negative aspects in a contract of buying and selling.
AIYZA JAVAID
Lahore
It. Is not just fake currency notes, but expired canned food, cereals, and other consumable items that are being sold at places like Aghas in Karachi, Alfatah, HKB etc in Lahore, by these retailers who are minting billions and pay no taxes, yet have never been prosecuted.
It is not an incident of consumer exploitation. The whole scenario related by Alya points to bigger problem. It is fraud committed by the salesman at the Rahat Bakers store. It should be reported to concerned police precinct . it is a crime to give fake currency.
Consumer exploitation is if the store charged more money for selling the groceries. We need to have strong Consumer protection organization to take care of consumer issues.
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