JEDDAH, 10 April 2003 — Since price determines the volume of trade in any consumerist society, the revolutionary “two-riyal” stores are raking in the money. The concept of “everything for two riyals” has spread to every corner of the Kingdom, though most of the cheap products on sale are substandard, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported. The Ministry of Commerce has warned that there are health concerns about some of the products on offer.

Umm Muhammad told the daily she enjoyed shopping at the “two-riyal” stores. “I love to shop in these stores. It gives me such pleasure shopping there; I can find whatever I need at a low price. Sometimes the quality is not very good, but it is OK for the price we pay. I used to have to go to lots of stores to get what I wanted, but now I can buy almost everything in one place.”

Customer Suha Ibrahim is aware that most of the products are fake and of low quality, but feels they look real enough. “I don’t buy my make-up from these stores because I know the stuff they sell could be bad for my skin. And I don’t want these stores to sell children’s underwear because I think it will cause skin problems for kids.”

Amal Abdul Aziz said the “two-riyal” stores put pressure on other stores, “which were selling similar products at triple the price.” Bookshops were particularly affected, he said. “Parents prefer to buy their notebooks and school materials from the ‘two-riyal’ shops. They benefit the poor. I’ve noticed that they also sell kitchen appliances, crockery and cutlery way cheaper than other stores. I think consumers should be protected from stores that charge inflated prices.”

Abu Majid, an occasional visitor to the “two-riyal” shops, said: “Since their business is brisk, they are selling everything from SR2 up. Most consumers cannot resist the temptation of such low prices. I think these stores are passing off fake products as well-known brands.” He called on the authorities to protect consumers from fake products.

“The ‘two-riyal’ stores are a potential health hazard. Their owners don’t care about the safety aspect of their products. They care only about profits. The Ministry of Commerce has warned people about these products but more and more people shop there and endanger their health,” he added.

A woman said she was outraged at the existence of these stores. “I bought some school materials from one of these stores. Later I discovered that they were dangerous. They injured my son. They had sharp edges. Where are the inspectors?”

Al-Riyadh tried to interview storeowners but they were tight-lipped. However, one storekeeper agreed to talk on condition of anonymity. “We have products that the consumer needs, and we sell what our customers want. We don’t make much profit because we try to satisfy the needs of consumers. Some of our products cost SR1.5, and we sell them at SR2.”

About the quality of his products, he said, “Yes, most of our products are fake or of low quality. Sometimes we put a label saying ‘Made in Germany’ when in reality it is made in China. I think consumers know this, why else would they buy such products? But our prices suit the pockets of many people and hundreds of them come to our store every day.

“Some of our products are similar to what you can buy in regular stores, but they cost a third of what they are elsewhere.

“No inspectors ever come to our shops because they know the type of products we sell. Consumers have to the right to buy whatever they want from wherever they want. We never force anyone to buy from us.”