Dear Editor,
I went shopping at Bourda Market the other day, buying the usual fruits, vegetables, etc. Quite contented with my purchases, I arrived home to find that my wife had just returned from the very same market and visited the very same stalls with the same vendors. What was a mystery was the price difference. We both bought the same items, from the same stalls, but there was a significant difference in the price we paid. This anomaly got me thinking about the displayed prices of goods and services in the country as a whole. Whenever I have visited some supermarkets, the prices of certain products are missing; even though I ask for the price, each time I go they never seem to display it. This got me thinking that vendors have different prices for the same goods for different people, and the price I am quoted is dependent on how I look, speak and the socioeconomic category as assumed by the vendor. To test my hypothesis, one day, I solicited the help of mother. She would ask the price of items from a vendor, and I would ask for the price of the same item a few minutes later after she had moved on. This exercise was repeated at the market, a few supermarkets and some stores in Georgetown, where the prices of goods were not displayed. To my surprise, once again, I was quoted different prices for the same items. Needless to say I was shocked at a few truths that were revealed by my haphazard survey: one, I need to dress and speak better, as I always got quoted the lower prices; two, my wife getting me to do the shopping may be based on her keen financial acumen and not her disinclination to visit the market; third, now is the busiest time of the year for shopping and I fear that many of my fellow shoppers are being ripped off by unscrupulous merchants. I am sure there are rules that require all merchants to display the price of items. Even a piece of cardboard with the price written on it would help. I hope we all have a wonderful Christmas and treat each other as we would like to be treated.
Yours faithfully,
Gavin Ramnarain
