I stopped by a durian stall after seeing signs advertising “mini durians” at VND30,000 (US$1.15) per kilogram, hoping to find the popular variety from Thailand, only to be disappointed.
The other day, when I visited the marketplace, I noticed numerous vendors offering durians alongside the road. Stalls marked at VND70,000 per kilo weren’t attracting any buyers; however, those boasting “small-seeded durians for VND30,000” were bustling with people.
Curious, I stopped to check it out, thinking it might be
the popular Thai mini durian
. A group of tourists also pulled up and got off their bus to buy some.
“How much is the durian per kilogram?” one of them asked.
The seller replied, “VND70,000 per kilo.” When a tourist pointed out that the sign said VND30,000, the seller casually responded, “We do have
durians for VND30,000
,” and pointed to two tiny, unripe fruits that could not be eaten right away.
A lady beside me snorted, commenting, “Purchase those, and you could end up with nothing but inedible meat inside.”
As more customers started questioning the prices, the seller became annoyed and retorted, “I’m not short of durians at 30,000!”
The seller displayed no remorse, as though such deceptive pricing practices were commonplace. Perhaps they are, since I’ve encountered them frequently elsewhere.
Certain sellers showcase big price figures yet conceal fine print specifics such as “per half kilogram” to deceive buyers. Conversely, some retailers quote rates per 100 grams but actually bill based on kilograms, particularly when selling items like meat or fish.
This kind of
dishonest business practice
What concerns me is not its novelty but rather how prevalent it remains. Do sellers believe customers will simply accept the situation after having already stopped to inquire?
They could potentially shift a small quantity of fruits, yet as buyers grow more knowledgeable, such deceptive strategies tend to be repulsive and detrimental to their enterprise.
Nobody is preventing you from charging premium rates. However, make sure these charges are transparent. If your clients perceive being deceived or dishonored, they won’t just depart; they’ll also advise their acquaintances against patronizing your business.
*The opinions have been converted to English using AI assistance. The readers’ perspectives are personal and may not align with VnExpress’ viewpoints.