JOHOR BARU: Consumers in Johor Baru should be aware that the prices of electrical home appliances are set to increase following the depreciation of the ringgit and rising production costs. According to Johor Electrical Appliances Dealers Association president Gan Cheng Swee, consumers can expect a 5% to 10% price increase starting from August. Gan further added that once the existing stocks are cleared, new stocks will come with new prices. This price increase is anticipated for a range of products including refrigerators, washing machines, and air-conditioners.
Gan highlighted that even locally-assembled products will be affected by this price increase. He explained that this increase is inevitable due to the current economic situation and expensive production parts. In addition, businesses are facing challenges in hiring deliverymen due to the attractiveness of jobs across the border in Singapore. Gan stated that many individuals are choosing to work as bus drivers in Singapore, which makes it challenging for businesses as they need to offer higher salaries to hire deliverymen.
Regarding any potential shortage of products due to increased market demand, Gan informed that in the past, air-conditioners were selling rapidly due to the long and intensely hot weather. At one point, customers had to wait for installation due to the high demand and insufficient technicians to cope. However, the situation has since improved.
Lee, a home appliance store owner, acknowledged the expected price increase but has yet to receive the official new prices from suppliers. She believes that there may not be a surge in customers rushing to replace their home appliances before the price hike, as these products are typically replaced only when they are damaged. Additionally, the buying power of customers has been low since the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. Nonetheless, Lee plans to inform customers of the possible price increase and advise them to make their purchases before the price adjustment.
In the midst of the impending price hike, shopper Mohd Hafiz Jeffri, 46, shared that he is in search of a brand new refrigerator, television, and blender as he will be moving to a new home soon. To avoid paying more after the price increase, Hafiz intends to make his purchases within the next few days while existing stocks are still available. As he is already spending a significant amount on house renovations, he is looking for opportunities to save on other expenses.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
