Harsh Warning to Chain Markets from TESK President Palandöken

ANKARA - Bendevi Palandöken, President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), stated that the price policies applied by chain markets in the market are contrary to the basic principles of free market economy and that this situation causes great damage to both consumers and traditional tradesmen. Stating that it is unacceptable for chain markets to dominate the market by determining prices together in many basic food products, Palandöken said, "The free market should work in favor of the citizen, this is an obligation. They disrupt the balance of the market by price collusion. The rules in retail trade must now be radically redefined."

Palandöken said, "It should be known that no one has the right to say that trade is free and to increase inflation by providing mobility in prices as they wish. As you know, the chains not only disrupt the competitive environment by placing products on the market that are close to their expiration date, with only a month or two left, but also create health risks by targeting the consumer when the consumption dates of these products expire."

"Unfair Competition Fuels Inflation and Misleads Consumers"

Bendevi Palandöken, President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), drew attention to the formation of an uncontrolled trade environment under the name of free market and that this upset the economic balances. Palandöken stated that consumers were misled by price misconceptions and said, "Of course, the citizen does not know this. These misconceptions in prices are revealed by using different prices in inserts, on the shelf, on the stand. The chains endeavor to offer the products to be sold to the citizens through detergents for some days, compulsory consumer goods for some days, and basic foodstuffs for some days. This situation turns into an opportunism that abuses the goodwill of trade to the detriment of the consumer."

Palandöken emphasized that this situation causes serious damage not only to the consumer but also to the tradesmen engaged in retail trade and prevents their bread. "As you know, these are also on the agenda in the works to eliminate the deficiencies regarding the regulation of the retail sector, which we have been following for years. However, as it is known again this year, the Parliament went on vacation and unfortunately it is not possible for the Retail Law to come to the agenda in this period," he said, underlining the lack of legal regulation.

"Urgent Steps Needed for Sustainable Trade Environment"

Reminding that the Parliament will reopen in October, Palandöken stated that it is of great importance to regulate the retail sector, reduce inflation and meet the expectations of the tradesmen until then. Emphasizing that tradesmen are an important segment that provides employment, Palandöken said, "Likewise, it is really critical to protect the competitive environment, to balance prices fairly, to prevent unfair competition and not to harm 415 professions in our country. Chain markets cause great damage to both producers and retailers by breaking the price of the product they want whenever they want. This situation causes tradesmen to withdraw from working life and close their shutters over time."

Palandöken explained with concrete examples how chain markets eliminate competition: "If there is a market in a neighborhood, or if there is a price reduction for certain products in that neighborhood, chain markets work together, almost in collusion, to operate rules that eliminate competition. This is not a free market, but a dangerous path to monopolization and oligopolization."

"Whatever is done in the world should be done in our country: Protecting Tradesmen is a Constitutional Duty"

Underlining that tradesmen and artisans should be protected by the state in accordance with Article 173 of the Constitution, Palandöken stated that a sustainable trade environment must be re-established and the definition of retail trade must be changed. "Successful practices in this regard in the world should be implemented in our country as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will completely destroy the retail sector. After that, they will be able to apply single price, single item product practices and price determinations with their own comfort and without any competition."

Palandöken emphasized that tradesmen and artisans are a vital competitive element for society and said, "Without tradesmen and artisans, society has no other element to compete. The principles that will provide competition to tradesmen and craftsmen must be looked at and legal arrangements must be made in this regard. Otherwise, the leadership of the tradesmen in this situation and their effectiveness in competitiveness are disappearing day by day. As a matter of fact, the lifespan of tradesmen in working life varies between one and three years on average. As a result, they are unfortunately disappearing because they cannot resist the unfair competition of capital."