Annie Mapoma
MANAGEMENT at two of Johannesburg’s most popular flea markets, Rosebank and Bruma, are surveying their traders and intend taking serious measures against those who threaten the city’s flourishing flea market industry by overpricing.
The issue was brought to light when customers complained they were being ripped-off by certain traders, especially on items like clothes, kitchen equipment and other goods easily found in conventional shops.
Both markets say their prices on conventional goods should be between 25 and 30 percent lower than store- bought equivalents.
But, during interviews with customers and traders at the Bruma and Rosebank markets last weekend, the Weekly Mail & Guardian discovered this was not the case.
Said one customer, Guy-Roger Ngema: “I bought a pair of shoes at Bruma for R200 and later found the same pair at the Oriental Plaza for R180.”
Another customer bought a pool noodle for R35 at Bruma, only to discover that Pick ‘n Pay had been selling them for R25. A Rosebank shopper bought a dress at the market for R190, and her friend purchased the same type of dress for R160 at Truworths. Yet another customer bought dinner plates from Game at R10,95 each, but found the same plates going for R12,50 at the Rosebank fleamarket.
Experiences like these are fuel to the rapidly growing perception that flea markets are no longer cheap.
Marc Israelson, of Fleamarket Enterprises which runs Bruma, said a survey on fleamarket prices versus formal sector shops was being carried out. “If items for sale at Bruma are not cheaper than at the shops, we will insist those traders drop their prices or face eviction,” he said.
It was also Bruma’s policy to refund the difference in price to consumers who paid more at the market than they would have if they had bought from formal sector shops.
His view was echoed by Rosebank flea market director Bradley Fisher.
But there were a few exceptions. “Take, for instance, an artist. It is difficult to control prices because he knows how much effort he put in his work,” said Fisher.
The Newtown Market in the Market Theatre Precinct appears to have won the price war — “It’s cheaper here than at other flea markets,” said a customer — but is fighting a losing battle against crime.
One Senegalese trader lost a leather bag worth R700 last Saturday. “Three men came to my stand pretending to be interested in my merchandise. Two of them distracted my attention while the other took the bag,” he said.
An Indian trader suffered a similar fate. “A young woman picked up a blouse. When I turned my back on her, she had disappeared,” she said.
Chris Colin, of the Newtown Flea Market had not responded to questions at the time of going to print.