Public to have say on prices
Saturday 7th March 2009, 10:00AM GMT.
ISLANDERS are being given the chance to get involved with the Consumer Council and tackle high prices and unfair treatment.
Five focus groups are being set up to look at everything from travel fares and shopping bills to the cost of heating and lighting the home. As the population becomes more keenly aware of prices during the tough economic downturn, the Consumer Council is finding that it is over-loaded with issues and is turning to the general public for help. Council chairman Senator Alan Breckon is appealing for volunteers to help them to make a difference.
The five focus groups will incorporate travel and transport, including air and sea services; communication and media, including mobile phone tariffs; retail, including price watch and VAT; legal and regulation, including public consultations and draft laws; and utilities, including the JEC, Jersey Water rates and domestic heating oil.
Pictured: Senator Alan Breckon
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I really hope the Consumer Council listen to the public, grasp the nettle and sort out the sheer profiteering that is rife. In 20 plus years I have been here, Jersey has metamorphasied from a good value for money destination to a rip off Island. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this. Granted there is a boat out every morning etc etc, I love the life I have here, but prices have become bonkers. A few short years ago I used to have all my UK friends over on a regular basis, but now it is just too expensive. I maybe having a rant, but they all enjoyed coming here to sample the cuisine and nightlife, these days its cheaper to spend a weekend in Bournemouth or Brighton. What happened? Example: 3 bottles of beer in London cost me £7.50 a round, here no change from a tenner. Er hello. This is the root problem. Sort out the cost of getting here, hotels, food etc etc and the money will roll in. Don’t increase the resident population to 100,000, simply bring in more high spending weekend tourists over and re-generate the entire economy. Makes sense, does’nt it?
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First they should check the freight prices that are still charging “fuel surcharges” since their introduction 12 months ago….
Then the fact that the majority of old “family” businesses are pressurising the States against new competition..ie they have been ripping off the consumer since day 1 & now a new kid on the block comes in & give the public a better retail price they cry “not fair” !!! It’s about time Jersey born people wake-up to the fact that competition is better for them!
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This has all been tried before, we still pay VAT, we still pay a fuel subsidy to Condor and the airlines, sorry but until we get rid of the “vested interest element” nothing will change and I will continue to shop “off island” and save money doing so!!!
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agree with these comments most of these shops have had their day,as most of us buy on the internet tough!the,ve had it too good for too long,now its our turn to get back at them.i don,t really care what the chamber of commerce says about buying local,their only looking out for their own interests and keep blocking other retails from coming here,thats why they brought in new look so quick to stop us getting something we wanted.
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It’s a worthy step in the right direction but mistershifter is right – we need to bring back the value. When I was a kid all my relatives holidayed in Jersey, they were tight Northerner’s and they came her because it was a good value destination.
I’ve heard politicians villify the bucket and spade brigade but it brought prosperity to the island. Clearly times have changed and the world is more accessible but I think there is still a place for Jersey in the short break market.
For those of us who live here we need to reverse the trend for online shopping by giving a local alternative that isn’t twice the price. I will happily pay a premium to shop locally but I won’t pay double, stop being greedy and wake up or die local businesses.
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Ferries and food prices are very high. You can get a return from Jersey to the USA for a under £300 return with British Airways. But getting to UK alone with Condor costs £50 each way.
The real problem however is for the young who aren’t fortunate to have already bought a house, everything must be done to reduce house prices and keep the young locals in the Island.
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I have to agree with Keith,two occasions lately I have found the price locally is almost double ,than buying out of the Island. I understand that ,the shop keeper must meet his costs ,but I`m sure they dont make something double. When I went back to the shop to ask why ,I was told we cant buy in bulk ,as UK firms , and soon you wont have retailers ( and then you will be sorry type attitude)in Jersey,if people keep buying elsewhere.
It does mean they are pushing us to buy else where .
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There’s only one way to make a shopkeeper take note that his prices are too high, that is to talk with your wallet. If you feel that the price is too high, tell Mr Shopkeeper your feelings and that you will go elsewhere.
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Our harbour dues are higher in some cases than the port of London – Harbours and Airport set these charges as they state that each of these areas must pay its own way. This does not make sense. E.g if harbour dues were lower, it would definitely help our ailing agrucultural industry and imports would also certainly be a lot cheaper, people would buy more, employ more people etc these people would pay more tax and social security so the States would recoup their money that way. It doesn’t make sense to look at each area on its own – they should be looking at the wider picture.
There are very few retailers that are “Jersey” or “locally” owned and these only survive because they own their premises, those that don’t are really struggling. Most of the shops in town are UK outlets or franchises and are being charged outrageous rents by UK landlords e.g. when Benetton were in King/Queen Street they were being charged £90+ for a very small shop – you have to sell a load of sweaters to recoupthis sort of money. Add to that insurance, staff costs, holiday cover, maintenance of the premises, electricity, social security, GST, accountants, secretarial fees to do all the paperwork and all the costs involved with vehicles if they provide a delivery service and it’s incredible how much it costs to run a business over here. Unless you have run a business yourself you don’t appreciate how expensive it is to do so in Jersey. It’s no wonder that businesses leave the Island.
Many of the goods we import via the internet are from warehouses, granted they have to pay people to take the orders and package the goods, postage, insurance and a certain amount of maintenance on the building but they also buy in enormous quantities and thus get fantastic discounts and their turnover is incredible so they can charge cheaper prices.
We also expect our local retailers to keep a varied stock, many items hardly move at all but if they don’t stock these things the customers complain and will go elsewhere next time. We also expect advice from the shop assistant – what do I need to do this etc? so the businesses need experienced staff and have to pay them more as a result.
What we need is rent control on business premises and cheaper harbour and airport charges – all within the remit of our Ministers – lobby them and make your feelings felt. Then we can insist on cheaper retail prices in the shops.
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Re comment 9 Nellie Macon – I accept that UK retailers have cheaper storage and can buy in bulk but if the Jersey supplier was paying the same as me it would still be half price. You have to figure this is the absolute maximum that they are paying and that the profit margin is outrageous.
IE TV from JEC £1500, same TV from Dabs £640 ( I know I just bought it ) There is no justification for the high prices and they will go out of business if they don’t stop.
This applies to everything from electrical good, clothes, even used cars.
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What I’d also like to see is the cost of accomodation, buying homes plus renting for qualified and non qualified people looked at. I think that landlords/estate agents etc… should no longer get away with the ridiculous prices people have to pay just to have a roof over their heads.
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my mate just brought a wedding dress online for £84 (with 50 quid postage) after trying on the dress in a shop locally – the dress felt and looked the same as the one in the shop in fact the only difference was the price. In two shops locally one was £950 and the other £1,150 – so she saved well over 700 quid buying it online… and it was custom made to her measurements – how do local shops justify this mark up!?
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What exactly is being proposed that will deal with the issues, bearing in mind that we seem to be getting ripped off on almost everything?
It might be an easier exercise to identify where we are not being charged extortionate prices and charges.
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