The Hindu Business Line : Consumers beware!

This refers to the news reports in newspapers, including Business Line, about agitation programmes to be launched by different trade associations as well as other organisations.

All of them are readying themselves to fight the big retail companies.

Granted, the fears that these big, organised retail firms will make running a business difficult for the small kirana stores are not totally unfounded.

However, these small outfits have to do some self-examination and realise that the consumers are the ultimate authority to decide the future of each and every kirana store.

How many of these stores are ready for a change in the way they have done business for ages? Very few of the retailers or the wholesalers have ever tried to cut costs. Consumers have always been treated as mere buyers who have no rights, as there was always a seller’s market in the kirana market.

The consumers should now be watchful of any organisation that claims to protect their interests. Their real intentions may be different.

However it will turn out, the Government’s duty is to ensure that the new big retail companies do not sell below cost to drive out the smaller competitors.

Narendra Apte e-mail