The Consumer Council of Fiji says it is illegal for businesses to engage in exclusive dealing for the supply of students’ school requirements.
Council chief executive Seema Shandil said they have discovered that a prominent school uniform retailer has been advertising that they are preferred supplier of school uniforms of several schools which were named in the advertisement.
She said in exclusive dealings, parents and guardians are informed by the school to only purchase items from one particular trader.
Shandil said hallmark of exclusive dealings is that it disallows competition as consumers are forced to believe that they have no choice but to purchase from a single trader at a given price.
“It is important that consumers understand that this phrase “preferred choice” at times is initiated by the traders themselves and therefore it may not have the consumers’ best interests at heart.”
“It deprives consumers from choosing other traders and conducting comparative shopping because of the illusion that only one particular trader offers the product with the required specifications.”
The Council is also reminding businesses that consumers have the right to choose therefore, they should not engage in practices which breach consumer rights.
“Consumers are also urged to ignore such advertisements and conduct comparative shopping, sticking to their preference and affordability.”
Consumers are encouraged to notify the Council of any such instances if they feel that schools are colluding with businesses for profit to become exclusive suppliers of products.
