Consumers urge boycott of profiteers

By Evie Andreou

THE Consumers Association (KSK) is calling for a general boycott of businesses with high prices and criticised the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) laid-back attitude toward profiteering.

Despite the CTO releasing a pricelist comparing seaside establishments to force them to cut prices and be more competitive, the consumers’ association is not satisfied.

KSK said in an announcement that it received many complaints from consumers for cases of profiteering and that even though Cyprus is a free market, pricing must be based on rationality and ethics toward the consumer.

KSK said water was a point in question.

“Most [businesses] sell a small bottle of water, which costs less than €0.20, for €2 and in some cases in clubs €3 or more. This difference in price and profit margin, which may be more than 800 per cent, is not justifiable,” it said.

The association argued that some businessmen refuse to offer a glass of water to customers so that they can force them to buy bottled water which they charge from €1.50 to €3.00.

“It is insulting, to say the least, for a consumer who buys a burger for more than €10, to be denied a glass of water, so that businesses can have more profit,” the announcement said, adding that in some places they don’t even have local bottled water and they sell imported for up to €5.

“The Cypriot consumer continues to be one of the most important contributors to coastal establishments during the summer months and this exploitation should not continue, especially now that the economic crisis has affected a large number of people.”

KSK urged consumers to be prepared and well stocked before they leave home so that they can boycott businesses with high prices if they have to.

“If we have with us the necessary items and we don’t buy from those who see us as victims and if we leave their shelves full, only then will they understand the power of the consumer and why they should be respected,” the announcement said.