The price tag is always the right price

Q. Kate e-mails: "I was with my mother at my favorite clothing outlet, looking for a dress when I noticed one which I thought I liked. It had the price tag of P2,390. I looked around the store for other dresses and finally decided to buy the one selling for P2,390.

"When I went to the cashier to pay, the saleslady scanned the bar code with the infrared device. The price that registered was P3,889. I inquired why it was priced differently. The saleslady simply said that P3,889 was the price indicated on the computer. Confused but wanting to avoid embarrassment, I paid P3,889.

"Before leaving the store, I checked the identical dress on display and discovered that they were all priced at P2,390. I picked one dress from the display to show the cashier it was not only the dress that I took out which had the price of P2,390.

"I went to the woman who seemed to be in charge of the store and related to her the situation. The women left the counter and went to the back office. Later, a man came out of the office and approached us, shouting, ‘You pay whatever the computer says!’

"In such cases, which price should be followed?"

A . You pay the price indicated in the price tag. The Price Tag Law, as embodied in Republic Act 7394, requires that all consumer products sold in retail to the public must bear an appropriate price tag, label or marking. Such consumer products must not be sold at a price higher than stated in the tag.

Price tags are meant to guide buyers with adequate information and help them to compare quality and prices of goods.

Violation of the price tag carries a fine of P200 up to P5,000 and/or an imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months. By the way, Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas II can also impose administrative penalties of between P500 and P300,000, depending on the gravity of the offense. There’s an additional fine of P1,000 for each day of continuing violation.

Q. Minnie Rose Atienza of Marikina writes: "I would like to thank the very helpful staff of Mobile 1 in Greenbelt. I bought a Palm Pilot from them in September last year. Unfortunately, it had a lot of kinks.

"When I finally decided to bring my unit to the service center, I was told that I could have the unit replaced but I needed to produce a proof of purchase. Not one to keep receipts, I went to Mobile 1 and tried to ask them if they still had a copy of the receipt they issued me. It was, of course, unlikely that they would still have it as my purchase had been made more than a year ago. Still, I kept my fingers crossed and asked them to try. I was told to come back in a week. The next day, I was surprised to get a call from the staff, telling me they had already found a copy of my receipt.

"It is not every day that I find such people willing to sort through records of a year ago just to find a receipt. Thanks, Mobile 1. And more power to you!"

A. Sometimes, all one has to do is ask. And if the request is asked nicely, chances are, it would be accommodated. We encourage consumers to actively find out for themselves their rights and, of course, their responsibilities as well.

(You may send your consumer complaints and comments to the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection, DTI Bldg., 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Call us at our consumer hotlines at 896-5740 or 890-4938 or e-mail us at www.e-reklamo.net.ph)