Stationery stores accused of unjust price hikes

Parents and students in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah are claiming major hikes in the prices of stationery before the launch of the new academic year.

The costs are becoming too much for families to bear, they say.

Consumers have demanded that the Department of Control and Consumer Protection intervene to put an end to what they call unjustified price hikes in school materials.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah, Hamad bin Arhama Al Shamsi, was quoted by Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm as saying, “The department is aware that owners of the stationery stores wait to use the opportunity of the beginning of the academic year to increase prices, so the department organised an awareness campaign which demanded shops put a list of fixed prices up for the information of customers.”

A bookstore owner in Ras Al Khaimah, who requested anonymity, said that prices were determined by the stationery suppliers, who imported many of the goods.

He added that the bookstore made only a small profit margin and that high prices negatively reduced volume of sales.

Khaled Sa’ad, an aggrieved father said, “I have five children are studying at different levels and always allocate a budget for the start of the school year. But I was surprised and shocked to find unjustified increase in the prices of stationery and school bags which has made me rework my budget.”

According to another consumer, Salem Al Mansoury, when he went to buy school bags for his children he found that he had to pay Dh 600 for each bag.