Consumer Council pays close attention to commodity prices in local market. A list of reference prices for mobile phones is now available on the Council's website. Mobile phones have become consumers' crucial telecommunication device nowadays, and local mobile phone market has developed rapidly to include over 200 retail shops selling mobile phones. It is revealed in the complaint cases lodged at the Consumer Council that certain retailers adopt unscrupulous sales tactics or raise their selling prices for popular phones up to twice of the usual market price. To save time and effort of consumers, Consumer Council is working with the Macau Mobile Phones Sellers Association to collect a reference mobile phones price list from local mobile phone market. Consumer Council indicates that a total of 13 models from 6 different mobile phone brands are included in the first phase. Consumers may visit the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) to check the reference selling prices of these 13 models, and their reference lowest and highest selling prices. Though the listed data is for reference only, the Council believes those prices and market prices are alike. Consumers are reminded to compare prices from different retailers before making purchase and determine whether the offered price is reasonable or not. 'Certified Shops' selling mobile phones and members of the Macau Mobile Phones Sellers Association both follow the 'Code of Practice' for mobile phone sellers to safeguard consumers' interests. Members of the Macau Mobile Phones Sellers Association also have the association logo displayed at their shops. Besides looking for mobile phones prices, consumers can also find the list of 'Certified Shops' on the Council's website. The above information will also be delivered to consumers associations in mainland China as 'Consumer Alert'. Consumer Council hotline: 8988 9315.
