How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Pricing which does not make sense


 
At Aeon, spotted Vitagen on offer: 2 packs of 5 for Rm7.99 which works out at Rm4.00 for each pack; 3 packs of 5 for Rm12.99 which at glance cost more than Rm4.00 for each pack.

This reminds me of the peddlars at Sunday flea market in Ipoh pricing their used CD/VCD/DVD: One for Rm2; 2 for Rm3 (average Rm1.50); 3 for Rm5 (average Rm1.67).

Last Sunday, at the Sunday flea market in Jalan Horley, Ipoh, I was surprised at the price of Rm10 for one imported pomergranate. Later, I found similar sized ones in Aeon supermarket priced at only Rm6.90 each!

One morning at breakfast, a friend who came back from KL was complaining about being overcharged by the beef noodle stallholder in Pusing. He mentioned that a mutual friend got a great deal for Rm7.50 when he ordered 'add noodles and beef', compared with what he ordered: '2 plates of plain noodle and a bowl with added beef' and was charged Rm13! A standard bowl costs only Rm5.50. So it would have been better for him to order 2 standard bowls for Rm11.00 instead! In other words, he was charged Rm13 (7.50+5.50) but short of one bowl of beef. We actually asked the stallholder and she could only say, 'He ordered extra beef'.

At a Dim Sum restaurant in a new 5-star hotel in Ipoh, my son was surprised with Rm6 per head for a pot of Chinese tea, more so when even his 2-year old son was similarly charged for having a cup to himself!

A retired teacher always assume that retailers with 'Clearance Sale' could make profit despite hefty discounts like 70% or even 90%! Unless those prices were marked up before the discounts, I would give the benefit of the doubt to the retailers who have genuine clearance sales. From a business point of view, it is better to clear very slow-moving stocks for cash than to keep and hope to be able to sell them later. Retailers do make mistakes when buying goods for resale. But he seems unable to accept the fact that goods had to be sold below costs. The freed space could be better used too.

Years ago, I had come across 'Loss leaders' in supermarkets which involved actually selling selected items at prices below their costs. This was a marketing strategy which assumed the loss leaders would attract customers who were likely to buy other items as well.

The other point which he is unable to grasp is how could hypermarkets like Aeon and Tesco make money when many people seem to go window-shopping and to enjoy the air-conditioned premises. I think their concept involves having many retail spaces which are rented to selected retailers. The substantial rentals are a source of steady incomes. Moreover, well known tenants are likely to attract customers who are also likely to visit the supermarkets. Similarly, supermarket customers are also likely to visit the other shops and make purchases.

The other main advantage of a supermarket business is the immediate cash receipts for goods sold. Even with credit cards, I am sure the supermarket receives from their issuers much earlier than the credit periods offered by its suppliers. I notice those manufacturers of very saleable goods can afford not to supply to supermarkets which insist on long credit periods.
 

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