#MRP



The government introduced a system of marking the price of articles on its packing so that the public is not cheated into paying more than a reasonable price
          Under the Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, all packed goods should carry certain essential information on the package which includes among other things the maximum retail price (MRP).
Under the Consumer Goods (Mandatory Printing of Cost of Production and Maximum Retail Price) Act, 2006, certain guidelines have been provided so that the consumer cannot be charged over the maximum price printed on the goods by the manufacturer.

                                       

        This MRP is so devised that it includes the cost including profit of the manufacturer + the cost of transportation to a far point in India from place of manufacture + all the taxes on it (the highest possible State tax on that item in India) + profits of the distributing chain + profit of the retailer.
The defects in the MRP pricing policy are immediately visible to every layman. The authorities take refuge behind the word “Maximum” – meaning that it is the maximum which the retailer can charge. The official answer is that you can ask him to charge less – which if you do – you get a withering look from the shopkeeper + a surety that you are branded as a troublemaker, no more welcome in that shop !!
But it beats me that products such as given below which all of us buy some time or the other have MRP printed 100% to 300% times higher.

1. Sealed Box of 10 DVD’s – reputed brand; MRP 260/= , sells for 160/=
2. SET-TOP-BOX  for TV– reputed brand; MRP 1999/=, sells for 800/=
3. Oil bound Distemper 4kg - reputed brand; MRP 525/=, sells for 490/=
4. Induction Heater - reputed brand; MRP 3000/=, sells for 2000/=
5. Firecrackers – all brands; MRP 80/=, 400/=, 6500/= sell for 38/=, 180/=, 2800/=
       Similar is the case of Motor oil tins and Plastic products such as Casserole or Thermos etc.

          With instances such as given above the MRP becomes a joke on the customer. The retailer can charge still more without anybody becoming wiser. One is tempted to ask why is printed and for whose benefit ?
          It is not that the authorities are not aware of it, after all they also buy these things – so they cannot plead ignorance. May be in their wisdom they have some other reason which is a big secret.

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