Low patronage hits petty traders as stocks enter expiration dates

The high chances of buying expired products from petty traders these days is alarming as stock of products get expires before purchase

This is not necessarily that they wished to sell such products to their customers, but the low patronage they are experiencing, due to the downturn of the economy, is causing the majority of their stocks to go into expiration dates.

Some traders who spoke to Economy&Lifestyle narrated embarrassing experiences, where valuable customers return goods bought without knowing they were expired.

As a result, most of them confess that they now sell-off their stocks, even at half the cost, particularly when the expiry dates are approaching, just to cut colossal losses.Narrating her experience, Mrs. Modupe Hassan, a petty trader, said “I had an embarrassing experience recently when a customer returned a bottle of yogurt, half drunk, to me saying that it has expired.

“When I checked the expiration date, it had expired two months earlier. This was a drink I purchased two parks, to retail, three days before the occurrence.“I didn’t check the expiration date because of the trust I had in the wholesaler.“I had to return the drinks because the incident made me check the expiry dates of other drinks and saw that all of them had expired.

“The seller told me that the price of the drinks with long expiry dates was different from the price of the one I bought.

“I had to add money to get the former.”

Mr. Phillip Chukwuma, also a petty trader, said he sold out the expired drinks at low prices before the expiry dates, emphasising the fact that Nigerians are not fond of checking expiry dates, except a few.“It is not our fault. There is low sales due to low income, accompanied by increase in expenses.

“People no longer go for soft drinks, snacks and other petty items but important needs like food and the essentials.“Unlike before when a child can buy soft drinks.“Now, even juice is a no go area for many parents to talk of soft drink.“In a bid to avoid loss, I decided to sell out most of the goods at a cheaper price before the expiry date.

“Those that are a few days into the expiry date are also sold out.“Some customers don’t even care about the expiry date of these goods they just buy it like that.“Some will even tell you that it does nothing to them because their bodies are already used to consuming such.“Though, I have resolved to buy in bits,but the cost of transportation is also telling on the business.

“I have no choice than to follow my plan to avoid loss.”Mrs. Monsurat Salami , a Point of Sale (PoS) agent confirmed Phillip’s statement saying that she drinks expired drinks and eat expired snacks like sausage and it does nothing to her system.“Many people have been drinking and eating expired products.“It has not killed them. Even most of these drinks are adulterated products which a lame man cannot differentiate the fake from the original.

“I don’t look at the expiry date of drinks or food items I buy. It is not a part of me.“I buy drinks and consume them before knowing it has expired and it has not damaged my system.

“In this economy, you embrace what you have.”The President Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria, AMEN, Prince Ichie said : “I believe that before we talk of people buying expired foof items and drinks, let’s go to the foundation.“The soft drinks we are drinking in Nigeria are unhealthy and the manufacturers are producing anything, not following due process and mindful of people’s health.

“In no particular order, for instance Coca brand , I know of a few years ago while growing up, when drinking it you taste kola.“But recently, what they are allegedly putting is nothing but coloring, sugar and water.

There is no kola as it used to be before.“The production aspect and the people that ought to inspect the product in Nigeria have neglected this because maybe because of their selfish or personal interest.“ Another look alike brand are drinks made from oranges .“Before, if you are drinking such brands , you will be having that taste of pure orange.

But this time around, it is also water, colouring and enough sugar.“Coming to brands made with lime, I am talking about my personal experience before now, you will feel the taste of lime in the product.“Now, if you check all these products, many of them are the architect of all these sicknesses you see.“ A child or young person suffering from diabetes and unknown illnesses.

“Taste other soft drinks abroad, you will see that it still contains the original content and taste.“On the issue of expired snacks and drinks, even myself, I am not careful enough to start looking at the date of manufacture or expiry date of drinks.“Nobody cares to complain or take into consideration that these soft drinks have long lost their original taste.“Even if you complain, who will listen to you.

“Most times when taking soft drinks you see particles in the contents and, because you have already opened it, they will say you are the one that put it there.“We need to awaken the consciousness of Nigerians to look into what we ought to know and report to the appropriate authorities to take urgent action.