Sydney convenience stores under fire for not showing prices

By Esther Han
Updated August 20 2014 - 10:13am, first published 9:09am
Paying the price of convenience: City Convenience stores have been criticised for their pricing. Photo: Jane Dyson
Paying the price of convenience: City Convenience stores have been criticised for their pricing. Photo: Jane Dyson
Pricey: A City Convenience store in Sydney Photo: Tamara Voninski
Pricey: A City Convenience store in Sydney Photo: Tamara Voninski

 

Sydney's central business district is becoming dominated by chain convenience stores that are charging triple supermarket prices for some essentials but often do not display prices on shelves.

Time-poor shoppers may be willing to pay for convenience. But one consumer advocate has warned about the possibility of price-gouging at stores that do not display prices, such as City Convenience, which has about 50 outlets in the city, including eight along George Street.

A comparison on a basket of six popular goods – Coke, chocolate, chips, Panadol, mouthwash and Band-Aids – bought on George Street revealed City Convenience charged $42, while 7-Eleven, which does display prices, charged $32.

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