[ad_1]
The Competition Commission has found Dis-Chem guilty of excessive prices on essential hygiene products to the detriment of customers and consumers in contravention of the Competition Law.
FILE: The essentials include various types of surgical masks. Image: Dischem Facebook page.
JOHANNESBURG – Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited was charged Thursday with inflating prices during the national COVID-19 shutdown.
The Competition Commission has found Dis-Chem guilty of excessive prices on essential hygiene products to the detriment of customers and consumers in contravention of the Competition Law.
Essential items include various types of surgical masks.
Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said: “People who sell these essential products should appreciate that these are literally life-saving items right now. They should not be exploiters and take advantage of liquidity struggling consumers at the worst time in our history. We will spare no effort to protect the consumer. “
The Competition Commission said it launched the investigation after receiving complaints from the public against several Dis-Chem-owned retail stores for engaging in the overpricing of face masks, specifically dusk and surgical masks.
“These essential items are 50PC Blue Surgical Masks, 5PC Surgical Masks, and Blue Dress Folio Surgical Masks. Since at least March 28, 2020, the Commission received several complaints from the public against various retail stores owned by Dis-Chem for participating in fixation. Overpricing of facial masks, specifically dusk and surgical masks, “the commission said in a statement.
According to the commission, Dis-Chem inflated its 50PC blue surgical mask, from R43.47 (ex VAT) per unit (50 masks) in February 2020 to R156.95 (ex VAT) per unit (50 masks) in March 2020 , a price increase of 261%.
5PC surgical masks, the average price increased from R13.27 (excluding VAT) per unit (5 masks) in February 2020 to R19.03 (excluding VAT) per unit (5 masks) in March 2020, a price increase 43%
[ad_2]
