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Price Comparison Reports - To Kwa Wan District

  • 2009.11.11

The Consumer Council today (November 11) released its weekly price survey on a basket of 40 food and household items available at major supermarket chains and other retail outlets in the To Kwa Wan District.

In the analysis were listed the top 10 products with the most price differences found in this survey. Top on the list was: Cough Suspension 120ml (from $18 to $35.9, or a price difference of 99.4%).

Following closely (between 93.9% and 60%) were: Sesame Soda Cracker 130g ($3.3 to $6.4, or 93.9%); Sliced Pineapple in Heavy Syrup 836g ($9.3 to $15.9, or 71%); Fried Mackerels in Chilli Sauce 155g ($5 to $8.5, or 70%); Spiced Pork Cubes 142g ($7.5 to $12 or 60%).

The remainders 5 of the top 10 list (ranging from 58.9% to 49.2%) were: Yellow Label Tea 100 Teabags 200g ($27 to $42.9, or 58.9%); Tung Chun Sesame Oil 150ml ($9 to $14, or 55.6%); Deep Heating Rub 1.25oz ($20 to $30, or 50%); Bathroom Cleaner Refill 500ml ($8 to $12, or 50%); Superconcentrated Dishwash Detergent (Lemon) 500ml ($12 to $17.9, or 49.2%).

Other highlights in this weekly price survey covering (a) prepackaged food products, and (b) household and personal care products:

Prepackaged Food

  • A total of 19 items in this category at 12 retail outlets, covering major supermarket chains, individual supermarket, frozen food and grocery stores, and wholesale food shops, in the To Kwa Wan District were compared for their prices.
  • Considerable differences between the lowest and the highest unit prices were recorded, ranging from 5.9% to 93.9%.
  • The wholesale food stores surveyed in the district were found to offer quite a comprehensive range of foodstuffs at relatively lower prices.
  • Individual major supermarket chain offered stamps for redemption of kitchen utensils to draw customers.
  • Some major supermarket chains offered free gifts for purchase of designated goods. For example, 1 supermarket offered 1 can luncheon meat 397g for purchase of Corn Oil 3.785L. Another supermarket offered 1 grapefruit/orange juice 1.25L for purchase of 2 8-can packs Coca Cola.
  • Some retail outlets offered add-size pack, for example, 1 major supermarket chain and 2 wholesale food stores offered 20 teabags add-size to Yellow Label Tea 100 Teabags 200g, thus bringing the price down to $2.5 to $3.6 per 10 teabags. But, compared with another wholesale food store offering the item at the lowest unit price of $27, only 1 outlet offering add-size pack was cheaper.
  • Some major supermarket chains and wholesale food stores offered bulk purchase incentives. For example, 1 wholesale food store offered Fried Dace with Salted Black Beans 227g at $26 for 2, averaging $13 each; the discount price was lower than its unit price which already was the lowest recorded for this item in the survey. A good buy.
  • 1 wholesale food store offered Sweetened Condensed Milk 370g at $18.5 for 2, averaging $9.3 each. The discount price though lower than its unit price was nonetheless higher than unit price at other outlets.
  • 3 major supermarket chains offered Sesame Soda Cracker 130g at $10 for 3, averaging $3.3 each; the discount price was the same as the lowest unit price at a grocery store.

Household/Personal Care Products

  • A total of 21 items in this category at 15 retail outlets was surveyed, with price differences ranging from 14.4% to 99.4%.
  • Overall, prices at major supermarket chains and health-and-beauty chains were generally higher than those at drugstores.
  • Individual outlets particularly the major supermarket chains offered incentives such as stamps, price discount, gifts, dining coupons to promote sales up to a designated value.
  • 1 major supermarket chain and 1 drugstore offered 33% add-size pack to Milky Treatment Shampoo 750ml at $49.9 and $52 respectively, thus bringing down the price per 100ml to $5 and $5.2 which was cheaper than the drugstore offering the lowest unit of $44 recorded in the survey.
  • Some major supermarket chains offered bulk purchase incentive, for example, 2 major chains offered Superconcentrated Dishwash Detergent (Lemon) 500ml at $32 for 2, averaging $16 each; the discount price though lower than its unit price, was still higher than the unit price at other outlets.
  • Some major supermarket and health-and-beauty chains offered gifts for the purchase of designated goods including:
    • 1 major supermarket and 2 health-and-beauty chains offered 2 sealing clips for purchase of Fresh Mint Flavor Toothpaste 200g.
    • 1 major supermarket offered 5 shampoo milk 7.5ml for purchase of Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (Menthol) 750ml.
    • 1 major supermarket offered 1 bath lotion 100ml for purchase of Milky Treatment Shampoo 750ml.
    • 1 major supermarket offered 4 mini paper tissue packs for purchase of Top Compact Laundry Detergent (Environmentally Friendly Refill Pack) 2.25kg.

Results of the weekly price survey are available on the Council's website, its Consumer Advice Centres, and the Public Enquiry Service Centre of Kowloon City District Office.