The motto of the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) is “Value for money”. The motto has a very wide interpretation and means not only that you should have your money’s worth from a purchase but that the consumer should compare prices and quality of various sellers before buying an item.
It also means that one should buy locally produced goods once they compare favourably in price and quality with foreign imports, since by supporting local industry, employment would be created as well as more wealth would be generated in Guyana to the ultimate benefit of consumers.
An example of the first meaning of the motto is when one buys a consumer durable such as a washing machine or toaster. Some sellers do not give any warranty or they would give a warranty for a month, which, from our experience they rarely fully honour. The Law prescribes that if no warranty is given, then a six-month warranty becomes automatic.
To avoid the six-month warranty, some sellers would give a month’s warranty. The established firms, though their prices may be a bit higher than the various “fly-by-night” sellers, usually give a year’s warranty, and have trained technicians to carry spare-parts and have vehicles to move the item to be repaired. Over the years, we have had complaints from consumers who had bought items from these less-than-reputable sellers, and it is only by threat of the Law and bringing the Consumer Commission into the complaint that some justice is secured for the consumer.
In buying electronic equipment and consumer durables, consumers are enjoined to be very clear on the conditions of sale and always demand a written warranty.
When making purchases, it is very advisable that the consumer does some “window-shopping” to compare prices and quality. For example, last week-end, in the Georgetown markets, limes were being sold at six or seven for $100 to 20 for the same $100. Plantains went from $50 a pound to $100. Small tomatoes which are just coming into season were going at $80 to $120 a pound. Despite such steep variations in prices, some consumers continue to buy at the expensive prices forgetting the old and very factual adage “a dollar saved is a dollar earned.”
One should also take advantage of the discount or sale days which the supermarkets offer and give your patronage to those supermarkets which generally sell at a cheaper rate than others. A simple example is a well-known supermarket in Stabroek Square which persists in selling Golden Harvest bread at $280 a loaf while just over the road at the Banks DIH outlet, the same loaf, and probably fresher, sells for $20 less.
Always buy the locally-produced goods, once they match the imports in price and quality. In fact, local consumers have to be reminded that some local products are the best in the world. For example, Guyana rums are the best in the world; yet some consumers would buy inferior foreign rums at higher prices!
The pasta products, sweets and curry powders produced by E. B. Beharry have the highest ISO ratings, that is, International Standards ratings, and they sell at very reasonable prices, certainly better prices than any imported equivalent.
Their products have to be at highest International Standards since they export to developed countries and if they are not up to standard, they are rejected at port.
Similar to E B Beharry, the products of Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) and Banks DIH are ISO rated.
The biscuits produced by Banks DIH could not be bettered anywhere. Their beers compare with the best and Banks Beer is the permanent preference of most experienced beer-drinkers. Both Banks and DDL produce International brands of aerated drinks such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola and their own brand-name drinks match the international standards. Topco fruit juices contain real fruit juice and are not merely concentrates as in all the imported “juices.” DDL vinegar is fermented and of the highest standard and should be distinguished from cheaper and unhealthy acetic acid mixtures which often pass off as vinegar.
The margarine, soap and yogurt produced by Sterling Products could match any imported equivalents. Indeed, Sterling margarine is produced by a unique process and is certainly the best margarine on the local market.
One could never go wrong if one is guided by the motto “Value for your money.”