Investigates, Discovers, QuestionsÃ
This week: The Cellarmen
'People who combine together to keep up prices do not shout it from the housetops; they make their own arrangements in the cellar where no one can see.' (Lord Denning)
And what those cellarmen are doing is engaging in private resale price maintenance, at the expense of the shopper and shopkeeper. 'Pile it high and sell it cheap' is the motto of the supermarkets. But some manufacturers won't sell to supermarkets who say it's because they sell too cheaply and don't play according to the manufacturer's rules.
Because of the price-fixers, not only are some prices too high, but so are our rates, and maybe even our taxes. A secret battle is being fought in town halls to hit back at price-rigging by contractors, but with little success.
Now a new law is being brought in to outlaw 'the cellarmen'.
Jeremy James, Michael Dean and Jenny Conway examine the price-riggers - and the new law aimed at banning them.
