CAUTION! LAND MINE FIELD! HYPERNETO, RASCO

B"H

I filed a COMPLAINT today against the HYPERNETO in the Rasco shopping center in Tzfat. I told them the last time that they cheated me that the next time it happened I would complain and make the matter as widely and publicly known as possible, and so today I am doing so.

This is the gist of my complaint:

"COMPLAINT Against HYPERNETO, Rasco Shopping Center, Tzfat

I shop in the HYPERNETO in the Rasco shopping center in the Southern part of Tzfat. Shady business practices there are de rigueur:

These practices include, but are not limited to:

a) Advertising sales on items in the stores that are not to be found in the stores during the time period that the ad indicates.

b) Often an item is tagged as being on sale. Another, similar item is placed above the tag that shows the sale, but it is not the item on sale. It may be a very subtle difference, like large peas being on sale, and cans of medium size peas of the same brand are put above the tag. Or medium peas are marked at a reduced price if you buy 2 or 3 cans, and they intersperse those medium size peas with cans of large and small, such that the chances of picking up the right size cans is greatly reduced.

c) The actual item that is on sale may be half way down the isle. Sometimes, as I indicated in item "a" above, it is not present at all.

d) Often the price on the item is not the price I am charged. Of course I am always charged more than the price that appears on the item. When I bring this to the managers' attention they tell me that they do not have time to change the price on every item in the store.

e) Often when something is marked on sale and it is the item that is marked on sale the cash register registers the whole price.

f) Often if something is marked two items for the price of one, the cash register doesn't register the deal."

I sent the above complaint to The CONSUMER PROTECTION OFFICE in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the address of which is: 30 Agron Road, Yerushalayim 94190.

I tried to send the Complaint via e-mail as listed on their site, but it came back to me indicated undeliverable three times. So, I suggest that if you wish to lodge a Complaint against any business that you send it in physical form to the address above.

and to:

FAULTY PRODUCTS - The Israeli Consumer Council Complaints Division, which deals with matters regarding not displaying correct prices, misleading advertising, and faulty products. Contact the Consumer Council by Fax: 03-560-0180 and/or by mail: 76 MaZA"H Street, Tel Aviv 65789.

I urge anyone who is being cheated by supermarkets to complain to The Israeli Consumer Council at the address or fax provided just above this paragraph and to the Consumer Protection Office, whose e-mail is found on the site provided above.

Although big businesses don't like complaints, they are far more sensitive to the threat of losing business in mass. So, voting with your feet is really the way to go.

My experience has been that most of the outrageous advantage is being taken by the large supermarket chains. The "Mom and Pop" operations seem to be more honest. So, patronize Mom and Pop.

Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan, Tzfat