The Indian Panorama

Tag: Price gouging

  • Air India price gouging?

    Air India price gouging?

    COMMENT 

    Prof. I.S.Saluja

    The announcement with customary Indian pomposity of Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians was received with great enthusiasm by  everyone looking to return to base. However, a number of hiccups took away the initial cheer of many of them. One was the restrictions on OCI card holders, which seems nearly resolved even though the recent reports coming in from Mumbai speak  of OCI card holders facing problems even now.

    The chief trouble spot is the fares charged by Air India. It is unforgivable that the Airline, and for that matter, the Civil Aviation ministry, decided to indulge in price gouging at a time when Indians stranded abroad and NRI’s stranded  in India were going through harrowing  times because of the pandemic.

    Imagine, Air India ticket from India to US costing more than Rs. 100,000. The fare used to be Rs. 53,000 in November 2019 and Rs. 61,555 in January 2020. In many cases, actual fares are even higher than those fixed by Air India.

    The Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri  who a few months ago declared the airline will be shut down  if no buyer was found by March, 2020 seems to have decided to let Air India make a little money at the cost of those who are already under strain and stress.  In fact, government of India should have been  sympathetic  and generous enough to repatriate  all without asking them to pay the air fare.  That would have been a gesture to be  admire and be proud of.

    The US laws are very clear on price gouging. The administration here has acted tough against those found price gouging. In fact, Air India, too, may be  charged with violating the US laws. A US citizen can jolly well file a complaint and have Air India in the docks.

  • Businesses Indulging in Price Gouging

    Businesses Indulging in Price Gouging

     

    NEW YORK (TIP): Despite of administration’s strict warning against Price Gouging, Indian businesses, particularly grocers are taking advantage of the situation and  indulging in price gouging . It is really a shame they are hoarding and selling essential items  at 5 times to 10 times of the original price. They may have made some extra money but at the cost of the  fair name of India. A white guy wondered why he was being asked to pay @$4 for a small bottle of sanitizer when its original price is $1. And the receipt does not mention the item. It simply says grocery.

    Same with other essential items , like water bottles. A case of water bottles normally costing  3.99 max was being sold by a Hicksville grocer for $14.99. The receipt  says grocery.

    The same grocery store charged $1.00 for a roll of tissue paper, which normally sells for 50 cents.

     Many  Indian grocery stores (fairly big ones) in Hicksville and Richmond Hill have raised prices on a variety of items, like lentils, flour, rice etc. from 25% to 50%, adding to the woes of people already suffering under the difficult circumstances, consequent upon the outbreak of Coronavirus.

    An Indian grocery store in Jersey City charged $6.99 for a bottle of sanitizer which normally sells for $1.00.

    Stores like Costco and Walmart  may not have certain items available, but they haven’t indulged in price gouging.

    One finds no price tags. Receipts do not mention the commodities for which higher prices are charged. Instead, the receipt says “grocery” .

    We urge consumers to not submit to their being fleeced and  report the matter to Consumer Affairs department or call 311 in New York City and 211 elsewhere.

    Report price gouging, in your interest and in the interest of America.

    Follow administration’s advisory to keep yourself and America safe.

    God bless America!