DTI reminds online sellers it is unlawful to sellwithout a price tag, Stop using “PM sent.”

 

(c) DTI Sultan Kudarat

    Buying goods, products, handmade items, crafts, and items have been more accessible, and this is because of the use of different social media platforms, like Facebook. However, one of the business techniques implored by the sellers is not putting the price on the listing, and instead, the seller will reveal the price to the prospective buyer via personal message (PM).

The Department of Trade and Industries had have had enough of this scheme.

HINDI COOL ang PM SENT sa online selling! Gawing smooth ang iyong transaction kaya ilagay na ang presyo ng produktong...

Posted by DTI Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday, May 27, 2020

 

DTI’s regional office in Sultan Kudarat through their Official Facebook page to remind online sellers, 

“HINDI COOL ang PM SENT sa online selling! Gawing smooth ang iyong transaction kaya ilagay na ang presyo ng produktong binebenta mo.”

Accordingly, online sellers should make online transactions smoother by putting the product’s price right on the listing itself.

 

“Tandaan! Nakasaad sa RA 7394 o Consumer Act of the Philippines na unlawful ang pagbebenta ng kahit na anong produkto na walang karampatang price tag, label or marking ng presyo ng produkto.”, they added.

 

According to the Consumer Act of the Philippines or RA 7394, it is unlawful to offer any consumer product to the market without putting an appropriate price tag, to wit:

 

“ARTICLE 81.  Price Tag Requirement. — It shall be unlawful to offer any consumer product for retail sale to the public without an appropriate price tag, label or marking publicly displayed to indicate the price of each article and said products shall not be sold at a price higher than that stated therein and without discrimination to all buyers: Provided, That lumber sold, displayed or offered for sale to the public shall be tagged or labeled by indicating thereon the price and the corresponding official name of the wood: Provided, further, That if consumer products for sale are too small or the nature of which makes it impractical to place a price tag thereon price list placed at the nearest point where the products are displayed indicating the retail price of the same may suffice.”

 

Penalty for the violators:

 

“ARTICLE 95. Penalties. b)   Any person who violates the provisions of Article 81 to 83 for the first time shall be subject to a fine of not less than Two hundred pesos (P200.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months or both, at the discretion of the court. A second conviction under this paragraph shall also carry with it the penalty of revocation of business permit and license.”

 

For those online sellers, let us follow the law to avoid a legal problem, and for those netizens planning to buy online, let us be assertive and vigilant of our rights.