Property Hunter Magazine Issue 63- February 2015 | Page 69
PETROL DOWN.
PRICES
REMAIN
On the other hand, in some huge
departmental stores, some of
the restaurants inside are giving
out lunch sets or dinner sets at
just RM7.90 including a soup, a
main course and a drink! Yes,
you guessed it, COMPETITION for
customers. Even Mc.Donalds has
their value sets and KFC. So does
It has to be competition because
both are not charity organisations.
The real reason that all these are
happening would always be the
consumers. If we are still okay and
patronise the restaurants while
still lamenting the fact that they
are expensive, then we are the real
cause. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not
easy to survive when you open a
restaurant, I do understand.
However, there are many
restaurants that are overcharging
and all of us know about it. Yet, we
continue to eat there. What a great
encouragement.
Everyone said more competition
would push for better services. Very
true. Where does the competition
come from? It’s from the buyers and
users of such services. Why do the
majority of us shop around when
we want to buy a new smartphone?
Most of the time, we would go to
places where many phone shops
would be operating side by side.
That way, we know we would get the
best possible price. It’s the same. Is
it true that the food that we want
to eat, only that ONE shop sells it
and only that ONE shop is our only
choice? If the answer is Yes, then
congratulations to the shop, they
can continue increasing their price.
Pity the ones who must eat from
that one shop only. Until today,
there is nasi lemak, with half an egg,
some sambal, kacang and timun for
RM1.50 and all the way to RM5 or
higher. Do we believe in the power
of the people? If we do, it’s also time
to exert a little influence on prices
that we feel are not justified, not
just continuing to post in Facebook
comments and then doing nothing.
Personally, if I ever come across
any restaurants which I feel is
overcharging, I would not go there
and I would tell everyone I know
about it. Perhaps it is just the
nature of us Malaysians, we are
good people. Therefore, most of
the time, we complain and then
forget about it. Inflation, according
to economists depends on demand
and supply. Higher demand,
insufficient supply, prices go up.
Too much supply, insufficient
demand, prices come down.
When we go back to the actual
foundation for this inflation matter,
whether its demand or supply, it
points back to us, the people.
During good times, even the hotel
rooms would be expensive and yet
during low periods, the hotels can
throw special discounts. Please
do not tell me that their operating
costs differ between good times
and slow times? I know, everyone
has their favourite spots. Please
continue to patronise and support
them as much as you want. Would
I still go to Starbucks? Yes, I would.
These days, mostly for those buy
one free one offers. I also have
some vouchers where I get another
free cup of coffee when I buy any
coffee there. We shall see what
happens when they run out of
offers / promotions. Seriously,
I don’t think so.
“
Everyone said more
competition would
push for better
services. Very true.
Where does the
competition come
from?