By RICARDO WELLS
A TOP food retailer said he has “nothing to hide” in response to claims of price gouging on grocery items days before Value Added Tax (VAT) takes effect.
Rupert Roberts, Super Value’s owner and president, said that all products on his shelves were priced according to the rate of import duty levied when they were purchased and not reduced customs rates recently put in place by government.
Mr Roberts explained that customer complaints of high priced goods in his stores are not new. He added that nearly every week, representatives from the Consumer Protection Unit visit his stores to verify that his prices are in order.
“I understand that customers are concerned and that they have complaints – that’s what they do,” he said during a recent interview. “They have to understand that when we imported the goods presently on our shelves, the relaxed customs rates were not in effect.
“The relaxed rates promised by the government will affect our next stock of products, our prices will reflect those reduced rates and the savings will be passed on to the customer.”
He was contacted after Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson told this newspaper that the government had received a number of complaints about food retailers inflating the prices of goods ahead of VAT implementation. Mr Gibson assured the public that people found doing this would be dealt with accordingly.
Mr Gibson said: “We have had dozens of formal complaints and Consumer Protection is investigating and will levy fines on those persons who are price gouging. We reduced customs duty on many of the goods in the food stores ahead of value added tax in hopes that they will actually pass the savings on to customers. But we are finding that this has not been the case.”
Mr Gibson added: “In the case of Super Value, that has been where we have received most of our complaints from, so we went there to do a surprise inspection (on Wednesday) and see what was going on.”
Mr Roberts said he welcomes inspections of his prices.
“They (Consumer Protection Unit) are welcome to come down this week, view our shelves and look at the prices. We have nothing to hide because our prices reflect the price of duty on the date they were imported.”
“I am sure they will acknowledge that no price gouging is taking place here. Price gouging wouldn’t make any sense because it would only drive away customers.”
Mr Roberts took a lot of heat in recent weeks after consumers accused him of raising the price of eggs in his food store chain without reason.
He responded by blaming the government for the high prices, suggesting that the prices were the result of a weather-induced import supply squeeze and the government’s decision to raise the duty rate on eggs to 30 per cent to protect local producers.
Mr Roberts said last week that it was “ridiculous” that the price of eggs had to be increased by 86 per cent from $1.94 to $3.60 per carton in food stores.
He suggested that the government reduce the import duty rate to enable the food retail/wholesale industry to meet the peak demand created by the Christmas season.
VAT will be implemented on January 1 at a rate of 7.5 per cent.
Comments
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
I believe Comrade Rupert and hope his customers will too.
Tommy77 9 years, 3 months ago
Agreed.
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jackbnimble 9 years, 3 months ago
I don't. Since earlier in the year he has been price gorging! I go to his food stores every two weeks and have been watching the prices creep up to almost a dollar to two dollars on most items.... milk, eggs, yogurt, kelloggs raisin bran... just to name a few. I'm down to buying only the very basic items (when I am desperate) and just taking my business elsewhere. I suggest everyone else does the same.
What I don't get is how is it that Cost-Rite and other major retailers/wholesalers are able to pass the savings on to their customers and Mr. Roberts who owns several stores and no doubt also buys in bulk is so adamant about hiking his prices up. It reeks of greed!!
ohdrap4 9 years, 3 months ago
these major retailers dont go nitpicking over prices, as vat is implemented i will choose major retailers with advanced point of sales systems
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
Cookies are $8... A single pack of cookies...is the duty on cookies between 80-100%?
ohdrap4 9 years, 3 months ago
it is likely 45% on premium cookies
but there is cost shifting, because of the price controled items, they markup the non price controlled items to make up for losses,
truth be told, things are expensive everywhere, the cookies are just as expensive in other food stores
jelly, coffee and tea are duty free, but the prices are very high, likely because of shipping and cost-shifting
ps. make your own cookies butter, eggs, sugar and flour are price controled and a bottle of vanila flavoring lasts years.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
Good suggestion I will do that. Can't afford to pay 10 for cookies. It's annoying that same cookies are $4 in the US, and that's the retail price
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
And I don't get the rationale for eggs going from 1.94 to 3.60 due to a 30% increase in duty???shouldn't that be just 30% of the cost price? Which would definitely be BELOW 1.94...? but then I'm not a retailer maybe I don't have the right perspective
ohdrap4 9 years, 3 months ago
when the duty first kicked in, the egg prices went to 2.49 at supervalue and 2.59 at solomons
but the egg prices have risen in the us, just google.
adding the 30% brings it to 3.60 and 3.90
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
But duty isn't charged on the retail price...it wouldn't be 30% of 2.49, even if it were, the price should be like 3.30 not 3.60.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
But wouldn't the original 2.49 be inclusive of all dutiable costs including shipping? I've seen my bill go from ~160 to ~280 in the past year, I buy the same brands, same items, it's ridiculous, something isn't right.
I think ohdrap4 has the answer. I think when no one is watching the prices of the fast moving items inclusive of price controlled items creep up to compensate for losses elsewhere. Would be interesting to see a 5 year report of historical fines for over pricing
Going to start ordering my own dry goods with a few people, pay for shipping, duty and VAT I'm positive I'll save in the end.
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
by TalRussell
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
I like cookies:) I need to cut back though...'bout buy Bahamian, smt
justtryingtolive 9 years, 3 months ago
huummm
Andrewharris 9 years, 3 months ago
Coffee is duty free??? Really so why did the price go up $1.80 for Maxwell House a few weeks ago (in Super Value only, John Chea keep it at the same price) and then it went down about $1.00 the next. When I asked I was told it was D'lbeanas. I box of Ritz Crackers is $7.45. It is $1.30 in Florida. Something ain right.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
Exactly! Prices have been slowly creeping up ALL year. I got a small box of supplies for that gentleman in need of help and it came to 80 dollars!!! Just some rice, napkins, tissue, sugar, tuna etc NOTHING big, I almost fell over at that total. $80. Wow. Super Value is doing for more.
ohdrap4 9 years, 3 months ago
many things are duty free. duty free is not equal to price controlled, the markup margins are different for different products. if the shipping goes up (papa ingraham guaranteed 10% return to the port) or the international price goes up, the retail price goes up.
when i see thing priced cheaper from old stock, i stock up and clean out the shelf
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
Sorry, I don't buy it. (Shipping factor)
empathy 9 years, 3 months ago
I've read the New Zealand Consultant's report on VAT. They suggested reducing the Customs Duty to a small amount on virtually everything (Customs Duties in NZ have largely been eliminated as well as all of their other taxes being substantially reduced). When you have only some exemptions on particular items people have to wonder "in whose favor are these exemptions meant"?! The NZ Consultants also recommended reducing the VAT exemptions to only "financial services, certain insurances (like annuities which have a finance component) and residential rent". The initial increase in inflation faced by the poor/ working class should be accompanied by increased social services assistance. Once the Customs Duties are reduced across the board then the overall cost of living in the Bahamas should come down since these Custom's Duties (taxes) are likely the greatest component to the high cost of living here: Bahamians we are some of the most heavily taxed citizens in the world, lack of income tax not withstanding! Now the consumer protection agencies will need to police our businesses to ensure that those cost savings are passed on to the consumers. However simple business competition should encourage folks to "drop their prices", but keeping an eye out for "hogs" is a good idea. Why is it that our government thinks it can do a better job implementing VAT than the New Zealanders, whose Goods & Services Tax (GST) is acknowledged as being the best on earth?! Hopefully government will get their policies in gear and adopt the good advice that they have been offered, as well as tightening their own belts on the spending side!
ohdrap4 9 years, 3 months ago
the point empathy, is that duties WERE NOT reduced across the board.
and for the duty free items, where no reduction is possible, you will get an automatic increase of 7.5%, prescription glasses.
the kiwis also said FOIA is required, that aint happening either.
we will be doubly taxed for many years to come.
by the way, did you buy your new suit before vat?
worthlessbabydaddy 9 years, 3 months ago
@ Generalcrazy lol His point is you are likely to starve moreee with THIS ADMIN #dontblamemeeither
professionalbahamian 9 years, 3 months ago
Until serious checks and balances are put in place to curb government spending we are in huge trouble. Even with the best intentions, if this economy is not taken seriously and decisions are not made based on real numbers the cost of living will continue to rise uncontrollably. Are there experienced professionals making the decisions on what to borrow and spend?...Is there a written strategy- make it public?
Remember Education, opportunity for all, realistic minimum wage, developing a middle class based on sustainable industry- oh and please get rid of automatic gratuity at restaurants- where is the sense in that?
Government for the people doesn't mean creating an environment where handouts are necessary...
How much does it really cost to ship a container of anything from Florida, really? Is there room for improvement there? Fees, red tape, duty on shipping , crazy... Lower prices on all goods would mean more volume sold, which would lead to more overall tax collection...not less.
The_Oracle 9 years, 3 months ago
Ok, listen up folks: VAT is to replace duty rates which MUST COME DOWN to WTO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS by 2025. This is the driving cause. Ingraham already reduced the rates on many tariff headings in 2010 in order to comply, however those headings that were reduced were on the things NO ONE IMPORTS HERE! This allowed compliance with WTO timeline requirements without hurting revenue. Remember, we have until 2025 to reduce all duty rates. Duty rates are deemed "barriers to trade" not the case in the Bahamas as we produce nothing of note or quantity nor quality. This external pressure has been mounting since 2003, with both political parties playing pass the parcel until Christie got the call: TAX or devalue! Ingraham must be laughing his asset off even though his administration was most active in negotiating all of this. Wait 'til real property tax and income tax kicks in, once VAT does not prove to increase revenue as planned/hoped. The PLP are no more capable of instigating it than they are in implementing it! Now, to retail prices. Markup of every product business everywhere in the world covers the absolute total costs of the product or service and the business operational costs. Otherwise, bankrupt, finis, caput, closed. Also, many of the items in the foods stores are exclusive to wholesale companies who then import, markup and sell to retailers. Ever noticed the crews pricing goods do not work for the food store? They work for the wholesalers, and both companies expect to make money, or they fail. My question is, when the hell did the Government reduce the duty rates in advance of VAT? Ingraham did in 2009, 2010, maybe 2011 and 12, but we did miss quite a few deadlines prior to 2014. Government is expected to reduce some rates Jan 1st, but I doubt it will in any way be a significant offset to VAT, as they keep claiming increased revenue. Something from nothing is still nothing!
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
Listen-up cause Comrade "Sweet tooth" Tal when it comes to a delicious cupcake, I will pay "Super Cookie Value" Rupert $8 for a single deliciously yummy cupcake, no thought required - plus VAT of course.
"Linda, honey, just listen."
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james_anna42 9 years, 3 months ago
Get organized when doing an interior design. There are many choices to be made in each room and hundreds, if not thousands, for a large project. http://www.interiorideas.org/">interiorideas.org
Loveitorleaveit 9 years, 3 months ago
Can someone tell me how it is that Solomon's Fresh Market at Old fort Bay can have CHEAPER prices than Super Value Cable Beach??? Rupert Roberts care to explain that? Do they not pay the same rate of import duty as you do? Or truth be told are you truly simply gouging the Bahamian public out of pure greed?! Hey if I were an unscrupulous human being and saw an opportunity to raise prices on a weekly basis with absolutely no thought of how if affects my customers maybe I would do it too but I would like to think that I would not. Remember Mr. Roberts deeds count for more than words.
ohdrap4 9 years, 3 months ago
the eggs are 10 cents more at solomons fresh market.
milk, depends on the brand. solomons has a cheaper brand of milk, but that is pumped up with powdered milk.
for the straight vitamin d milk with no "milk solids" [powdered milk] added, you will pay 2 dollars more.
bacon is cheaper at supervalue, if you buy miscut pieces.
ted4bz 9 years, 3 months ago
Supervalue wereone of the first stores to increase prices last year when VAT was announces. The government first asked for 15% to take care of their habits and we said no. So they said 7.5% and allowed major stores double their prices while they do nothing about it. So the government will be getting 15% after all thanks to Mr Roberts and others like him.
The_Oracle 9 years, 3 months ago
Foodstores are buying commodity items and therefore purchasing based on a number of criteria, Price, availability, grade, even payment terms, Prices in the global marketplace are not static! Factor in purchasing incompetence as well.
star 9 years, 3 months ago
Note that from time to time, the government will enact new taxes or increase existing taxes, without a big fanfare for the public. This means that businesses are required to in some way pay more or higher fees to the government. In a competitive market, many industries are already operating at a low profit margin with ever increasing expenses on shipping, storage, transportation, labour etc. and so must pass on at least part of these increase to the consumer.
For instance, prices increased across the board after July 2013 due to an increase in business licence fees, additional bank taxes etc. See more info here: http://www.mondaq.com/x/258866/tax+au...">http://www.mondaq.com/x/258866/tax+au...
According to the official VAT guide, "VAT is a tax on consumption ultimately paid by the final customer". This means that the full amount of VAT is collected in full by the government, and does not include the cost of additional administration required to properly process the implementation, collection, remittance and repayment of VAT. This is an additional cost for any company and becomes a new bill, the cost of which will be ultimately passed onto the consumer. 7.5% is collected upon importation, which must be collected by the importer and paid to the government, and then 7.5% is collected at the register and also paid to the government. The customer therefore pays much more than the 7.5% listed on the final receipt, and there is a trail of paperwork that must be completed by Bahamians who need to be paid for their time.
VAT, is the new numbers money ;-) #fastcash
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