Supermarket probe targets big four

[marine1]

As much as I am hopeful, I doubt much will come of this.


http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090630052055947C833187

 

[Balstrome]

Yeah, I am still waiting for my share of the fines from the bread price fixers... Anyone know when I am gonna get my rebate ?

 

[mine_dump]

what's the most that they can be made to drop their prices by?
is it more than food inflation?
what's the point then?
I'm starting to think someone is making money out of these probes

 

[killadoob]

Please nothing will happen, why do they not probe the collusion in the cell market? this country has one motto for big business, rip off everyone and fix prices.

 

[DJ...]

what's the most that they can be made to drop their prices by?
is it more than food inflation?
what's the point then?
I'm starting to think someone is making money out of these probes

WTF!?

Anyways:

I'm going to put my neck out here and say that nothing will come of this though. Precedent was set in the UK with regards to category management which won't change and if anything only the way certain things are reported might change - there are no accusations of collusion at all and there is also no evidence pointing to it (yet). I highly, highly doubt they will find any form of price collusion.

Then the anti-competitive behaviour will be probed and nothing will come of it because it is merely a symptom of capitalism and their buying power (for those that don't know - they are accused of preventing smaller producers from entering the market). If this were a monopoly or even oligopoly I could understand - but it's not.

It is a waste of taxpayer's money imo...

 

[blunomore]

Yeah, I am still waiting for my share of the fines from the bread price fixers... Anyone know when I am gonna get my rebate ?

Isn't is just sad that sometimes these guys are forced to pay penalties to government, but the consumer does not get any benefit whatsoever.

What's the point then?

 

[OhGats]

Just like they probed the banks.... ya ya, heard it all before.

 

[Sackboy]

This can of worms is ready to be opened. Even if they don't find the evidence. Supermarkets have been getting away with a lot for years.

 

[rebel998]

I sadly agree with everyone in thinking nothing will come of this.

 

[Londo]

Yeah, I am still waiting for my share of the fines from the bread price fixers... Anyone know when I am gonna get my rebate ?

Isn't is just sad that sometimes these guys are forced to pay penalties to government, but the consumer does not get any benefit whatsoever.

What's the point then?

Yes, the penalties go to the "fiscus", that is the government. Surely, the penalties should go back to the consumer in the form of reduced prices for the period needed to pay the fine?

 

[Aeron]

No way! What's going to pay for the new Beemers then?

 

[PeterCH]

Yes, the penalties go to the "fiscus", that is the government. Surely, the penalties should go back to the consumer in the form of reduced prices for the period needed to pay the fine?

Penalties are one thing. They are the deterrent and they should go to the government. However, the guilty corps should still repay what they owe to the consumers.

If I rob you, you may have me arrested and I may end up with a jail sentence but I must still repay the money I took from you. The jail sentence and the repayment are NOT mutually exclusive.