AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize Cheese

Imp!!

Do your homework Peter. I have several invoices on my desk that show not all cheeses went up in price only some.

Accusing them of gouging is pretty shallow. Did you ever think that some of the prices may have gone up because their overall costs for bringing in the product also went up?

Thankfully people have a choice. If they are not pleased with a particular store they can choose to slam it on a message board and then no longer patronize said establishment.

If one were to look around the stores it would be noted that prices to quite a few items have been raised recently. Might have something to do with rising fuel costs, shipping, taxes etc. But then again, I am not an economist so don't quote me!

You can buy blue cheese at the Green House so there are other options out there.

OR you can respect your arteries before you need lipitor and a vascular stint.
In which case this debate is a mute point.
(ah the perspective of age)

Simon - I didn't do any homework nor do I have the information to do so. I merely reported what I was charged and what I was told. Factually, with no embellishment. I didn't use the word or even the sense "gouging" - you did. Nor did I make any accusations. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Now I don't know what is the correct conclusion to draw from this, but the bottom line is that a commodity that they are still able to import has gone up by 1/3 and when I asked why, I was told that it was because of the rise in "GST". Only when I pointed out that the increase in GST produced a cost increase of slightly over 1% was there a vague reference to the cost of shipping having gone up because there was still an embargo on certain cheeses. I asked whether stilton was still embargoed and the answer was "no". At which point the assistant concerned busied herself with another customer and didn't speak to me again. It may not be relevant, but I am pretty sure she initially thought I was a tourist.

What to do with prices when there is a small increase in taxation is indeed a problem. It isn't practicable and usually isn't possible to raise prices by 1.023%. Businesses have to raise some prices by more and not raise others - choosing which prices and how much is tricky. I know several businesses which have chosen to absorb the extra cost and not pass it on at all, at least for the time being, though for them general price increases will have to come sooner than they would have done. But rises of 33% on individual commodities are hard to justify.

Amanda - there are GST inspectors going around the country right now because (they say) that many businesses are using the excuse of the increase in GST to impose unwarranted price hikes. It is an acknowledged problem. That this should be happening is hardly surprising, as it happens anywhere when there is a change in tax rates or currency (look at what happened in Britain when decimal currency was introduced). I don't know that the inspectors have any legal powers to do anything about it, mind.

Diane - of bigger concern to me and other diabetics would be the high fat content of cheese. But I only consume small quantities.

Umm Peter thanks for pointing out the GST inspectors to me


I happen to operate a GST registered business so I am very aware that there are always GST inspectors going around the country. They come in and audit us every month or 2.

Yes, but there is supposedly currently a team specifically tasked with looking for unwarranted price increases.

Yet again you infer that their increase has to do with GST when you don't have the facts.

Imported cheese is hardly a staple to "most" people so let them charge what they want. It would be more damaging to the people to restrict imports. Telling retailers what to charge for non-staples makes no sense especially in San Pedro where there are all kinds of options for most things.

Please re-read what I wrote - the assistant told me that that was the reason.

But although I don't totally agree with Keller I do think this has gone on long enough. I reckon if I were to post that the sun had risen this morning someone would come on to demand how I knew. I've given the facts - make of them what you will.