The offers included home appliances, electronics and clothing
Discounts ranged between 30% and 70% on various types of goods
Adherence to the Ministry of Commerce’s instructions regarding licensing promotional offers
Last Friday, commercial complexes and shopping centers witnessed a large demand from citizens and residents to obtain distinctive pieces of various goods that were subject to major discounts on the occasion of the International Day of Discounts and Offers, known as “White Friday,” which reached a 70% decrease in prices. Indeed, there were some pieces that reached the discount. To 90%, in addition to offers to buy one item and get another for free, or buy one item and get two for free, and the demand and sales volume on Friday exceeded three times the normal days, according to employees and store owners. Commercial.
The “White Friday” offers included home appliances, electronics, and basic goods such as food and beverages, in addition to clothes, shoes, accessories, perfumes, cosmetics, and much more.
Shoppers surveyed by Al-Arab unanimously agreed that the discounts this year are the best compared to previous years, which ranged between 30% and 70% on various types of goods.
They indicated that they wait for this day every year in order to obtain the household appliances, clothes, and perfumes they need from international brands, all of which are subject to discount, which represents a golden opportunity to seize what they can afford and then obtain their needs at the best prices.
While others emphasized that the sales season is an important occasion for large families to meet their requirements for various goods, which usually vary according to the number of family members and their age groups, and this is what makes such occasions an opportunity to obtain what they cannot buy throughout the year.
Great turnout
During Al-Arab’s tour of one of the major commercial complexes, store managers said that the great demand witnessed in the shopping places spread across the country is due to the diversity of the displays and goods included in the discounts, which meet the various needs of families, including clothes, shoes, and cosmetics, in addition to appliances, household goods, and electronics, which were also subject to… To discounts exceeding 50%.
Regarding the necessary licenses to carry out the discounts, they confirmed their keenness to adhere to what the Ministry of Commerce and Industry directed by obtaining the necessary permits for all their store branches in advance to avoid delays or running into any problems related to this matter.
A qualitative leap in sales
They also noted that the volume of sales on Friday exceeded three times that of normal days due to the coincidence of the offers with the weekend and the end of November and employees receiving their salaries. They expected that sales activity would continue at its highest levels this year due to the continuation of the offers for three consecutive days, which enhances demand and thus spending on shopping.
Regarding the impact of social media on demand and sales, they explained that social media sites are one of the newest means of advertising that business owners turn to due to their rapid spread. They also have a viewing and following rate that is almost equivalent to viewing and following traditional media such as press, radio and television, which reflects positively on our sales, as their impact is much stronger on the audience. Propaganda is the influence of traditional media… as they put it.
Inspection campaigns
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry organizes inspection campaigns on commercial complexes and stores to see the extent of their compliance with licenses, ensure that they implement specific licenses, and ensure the validity of announced promotional offers, to avoid any price manipulation or fake offers, especially during seasons, occasions, and holidays.
The Ministry recently noted, through its official accounts on social media, the prohibition of selling goods or services at reduced prices without a license, based on Ministerial Resolution No. 311 of 2018 regarding selling at reduced prices.
Article No. 2 of Ministerial Resolution No. 311 of 2018 prohibits stores from selling goods or services at reduced prices or advertising this by any means except after obtaining a license to do so from the administration, in accordance with the terms, conditions and conditions stipulated in this decision.
The most prominent thing regulated by the ministerial decision is to specify the types of discounts into two types. The first: special discounts such as festivals and special events, which are held in commercial complexes and may last for one day or more, as well as those held for specific loyalty customers registered with stores, whatever their name, in addition to opening the way for discounts. Which exceeds 50%, in addition, special sale days are not deducted from seasonal sale days.
The second type of discounts, as specified by the decision, are general discounts, such as seasonal discounts, which have been opened for a month instead of 21 days, in addition to opening the door for discounts that exceed 50%.
Among the most prominent matters regulated by Ministerial Resolution No. (311) of 2018 is the commitment to the consumer’s right to respect his religious values, customs and traditions, and not to announce the start of discounts except one day before the date specified in the license, in addition to announcing the reduced prices free of any exaggeration or Misleading or deceptive claims or methods for the consumer. The decision explained that to protect consumers from misleading advertisements, the percentage of goods and services covered by the maximum discounts that are advertised on the interface and inside must not be less than Shops account for 20% of the total goods and services subject to the discount. The decision also indicated that the Ministry has the right, when any violation occurs, to cancel the license, stop discount sales for the remaining period, and remove all signs of advertising for it. The Ministry also has the right not to grant the violating store a license to conduct discounts.
The ministerial decision stated that shops and commercial establishments can apply to obtain a license for special discounts and general discounts electronically by submitting an application on the ministry’s website: www.mec.gov.qa.
Shop with confidence
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is keen to highlight the “Shop with Confidence” initiative when announcing sales and promotions to ensure the transparency of commercial transactions and enhance the climate of trust between suppliers and consumers, for the benefit of everyone.
The Shop with Confidence initiative aims to prevent any violations or unreal or unlicensed offers, by placing the sign (Shop with Confidence) as a unified sign, as well as the direct number 16001 (the Ministry’s call center) to submit any complaints or comments.
Organizational coordination comes with all commercial stores by adopting the sign (Shop with Confidence) and placing it clearly on all advertisements for discounts and promotions as evidence that the store in question has the required license from the competent authorities in the Ministry.
Requiring all stores to place a sign (Shop with Confidence) on all invoices delivered to customers upon completion of purchases.
The Ministry stresses to those in charge of commercial stores and all similar stores the necessity of taking the initiative and starting without delay in adopting the designs and models of the “Shop with Confidence” sign in all advertisements for sales and promotions, and placing them on the invoices delivered to customers, and the relevant departments of the Ministry will verify the extent of their compliance with what was stated in this initiative. and the extent of their commitment to it.
The Ministry also calls on all consumers to review the price of the commodity before and during the period of sales or promotions. The consumer also has the right to view the statement of goods available in the store, which shows the price before and after the sales process and the approved discount rate. The consumer must be careful to take a detailed invoice that shows It has the actual price and the download price.