Consumer Council launches an updated version of its 'Supermarket Price Platform' iPhone app. The app consists of 6 independent functions and provides consumers with over 32,000 price data collected each month. The 'Rankings for Supermarkets with Lowest Prices' function enables consumers to check easily which supermarkets are selling the most number of lowest price products. Starting from Q4 of 2013, the Council increased the number of surveyed supermarkets from 15 to 95, and the number of surveyed items from around 4,000 each month to over 32,000. The website version of the 'Platform' has been renewed with newly-added functions. The 'Rankings for Supermarkets with Lowest Prices' function enables consumers to check easily which supermarkets are selling the most number of lowest price products, and to compare price levels of all the surveyed supermarkets in the 9 parishes in Macao. The Council indicates that it has become quite common for consumers to make price comparisons with their smart phone apps while patronizing supermarkets. Since its launch in late 2011, the iPhone 'Platform' app has recorded a browsing record of almost 2.5 million hits and a downloading record of over 43,000 times. For the Android version, it has been downloaded over 32,000 times since its launch in 2012 and has a browsing record of over 2.6 million hits, with an average usage time of almost 10 minutes. After renewing its website version of the 'Platform', the Council now launches an updated version of its iPhone 'Platform' app. The 'Platform' app has been updated with new and flexible functions for the convenience of consumers. There are 6 independent functions, including 'Rankings for Supermarkets with Lowest Prices', which is also available on the website version. Consumers can check the list of supermarkets with the highest and lowest price items. Further, the new app is equipped with online complaint service. The 'Supermarket Price Platform' is available in Chinese, English, and Portuguese and the updated version for Android will be available at the next stage. The Council has generated a 'QR code' for its 'Platform' app, consumers are welcome to download the app and to provide comments and suggestions. Further, all mobile phone users in Macao can also get access to the 'Supermarket price survey' information through the WAP channels provided by their mobile phone service providers. The Council indicates that any movement on the list of supermarkets on 'Rankings for Supermarkets with Lowest Prices' will be shown, and supermarkets are found to have make price adjustments after the lists were made public. The Council also states that its supermarket price survey work will be updated and amended from time to time according to changes of the market. For enquiry, please call 89889315.
