POVEK yesterday also criticised the government for failing to clampdown on illegal sales at shops across the island, weeks ahead of the official summer sales period.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference yesterday, POVEK General-secretary Melios Georgiou said: “Unfortunately this year – like the past several years – we have observed a widespread violation of the sales law, without the relevant Ministry authorities being able to implement the law. Illegal sales began in June, which we have evaluated to be misleading and false, aimed at duping consumers with offers of products made especially for sales or years old merchandise.”
He added: “Despite regulating sales periods, due to the self-interests of large businesses and the indifference of the authorities, the law has not be implemented smoothly and has thus afflicted small and medium sized retail businesses as well as misled consumers.”
But, according to a Commerce Ministry official, who wished to remain unnamed, stamping out sales violations was no easy feat.
“The law states that shops are allowed to advertise they are having sales, but not to actually have sales,” he said. “That’s a contradiction in itself, I know, because you cannot very well advertise you’re having sales and then not go through and sell items on sale.”
Nevertheless, unless someone made an official complaint it was hard for the Ministry to investigate the matter.
“Who is going to complain? The person who made the purchase? Why would they do that? As for us carrying out spot checks, the shopkeepers know who we are and are unlikely to sell us anything on sale,” he said.
But, Georgiou said the sales law should be amended, if it could not be easily implemented.
“The relevant authorities must give this matter the appropriate attention and take all necessary measures to implement the law in the immediate future. If they claim that to implement the law they need some amendments made, they should, based on their experience, suggest what those amendments are,” said Georgiou.
He said regulating sales periods worked in favour of consumers and shopkeepers. The former were ensured high quality goods at reduced prices and the latter were able to move old stock and get enough money to pay for new stock, he said.
Georgiou added: “Consumers should investigate the market prices and quality of products before making purchases and to be careful about falling for misleading sales.”