Dubai retailers warned; raise school stationery prices and pay fines

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in the Department of Economic Development (DED) has called on retailers in Dubai not to increase prices of school stationery in view of the back to school season.

CCCP officials will conduct an inspection campaign in the coming days to increase consumer awareness and ensure that retailers abide by the listed prices.

The initiative is meant to emphasise the importance of transparency and trust between traders and customers as well as enhancing business competitiveness in Dubai.

CCCP cautions retailers that violation of stationery price regulations noticed during inspection visits or following consumer complaints will attract fines.

Officials also call upon consumers to ensure that they are not made to pay a higher price for school stationery and to report if they notice any such attempt by retailers.  

Ahmed Al Awadi, Director of Consumer Protection Division in DED said: “A few traders take advantage of the overwhelming demand for school supplies and stationery during the back to school season and unscrupulously increase prices of such items.

“For any change in prices, traders should obtain prior permission from the Department of Economic Development and price list should be displayed prominently in the store and all promotional brochures.”

Al Awadi said inspection campaigns will be conducted to detect any unauthorised price rise and verify the retailer’s commitment to price regulations.

He said: “School supplies account for 50 per cent of the stationery sold during the back-to-school season. We call upon consumers to ask for the invoice on any purchase and retain a copy to be produced in the event of any complaints later.

“If the retailer refuses to give an invoice, the consumer must notify us on the Ahlan Dubai number 600 54 5555 displayed in the outlet or visit the DED office at the Business Village.”

Al Awadi said DED seeks to strengthen the relationship between the merchant and the consumer and to clarify the procedures, which are meant to uphold the highest standards in service and customer happiness in line with the UAE Consumer Protection Law.

In doing so, DED applies the best practices and principles in customer service and sees that consumers are not exploited during seasonal increase in demand.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.