The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-10-09

be no excepted items. Consumers must expect prices 10 be higher than they were during the weeks before Pearl Harbor. but they should not go appreeiably higher than they are now. In fact, they should go down. If consumers throughout the Territory would form the habit of listing the prices of merchandise they buy each month and comparing these prices with subsequent purchases. they would have an easy check on whether or not their merchants are raising prices
 ,"Consumers should also pay close attention to ceiling posting" Mrs Hermann stated. Unless the pres ent regulations every merchant selling cost-of-living commodities is required to post his ceilings on those items in his store. The ceiling may be written on the article itself on the bin or shelf which contains it, or a poster of prices may be placed conspieuousIy in the store The main point to be emphasized is that the prices should be posted so conspicuOusly that they catch the eye of the customer even when he is not looking for them. This is what is known as the 'eye-test. and simply means that the prices should be visible at the point of purchase and no consumer should have tl look for them.
 If the ceiling prices have no | been posted cOnspicuously in thu store" Mrs. Hermann continued "the customer should ask the mer chant why they are not posted. Ev cry inquiry made will serve warn ing oR the merchant that his oper ations are being watched. If, afte one inquiry. the customer does no find the ceilings posted he shoult write to his nearest OPA office oI Local Rationing Board and give ful particulars"
 The importance of asking fo sales slips ill making purchases 0 goods that seem unduly high wa also emphasized by the Alaska Dir ector. Under OPA regulations, sh, pointed out, the merchants are re quired to give sales slips if tn customer asks for them The slil should show the amount of tn, goods purchased, as well as the sun paid for it.
 Serious penalties are provided for the violation of any part of tn
 Office of Price Administration reg
 ulations, Mrs. Hermann stated .The merchant may De fined in al
 amount up to $5,0Uu., or sentencer to as much as a year in prison. H. may have his license revoked for 1 period of months, and civil redres is provided whereby every custome may recover three times the amour of each oVercharge, or $50, which ever is the larger amount.
 However" Mrs. Hermann con tinued, Do not try 10 be a pric, policeman. Leave that to the enforce ment staff of the OPA. Be vigilant but do not be a vigilante. If yol think you are being oyercharged ask your merchant about it. He ma, have a perfectly good explanation If he hasn't, then ask for you sales slip and forward your com plaint to the proper authorities. will receive promp and efficien : consideration.
 Mrs. Hermann also pointed ou that the price of consumer service is regulated by the General Maxi mum Price Regulation, which pro
 vides that the highest price tha may be charged for consumer ser vices is the price charged durinj the month of March, 1942.
 We do not eat or wear consum CT services, Mrs. Hermann said but we do pay enormous amount O money for them and they constitut an important part of our cost o living"
 Consumer services include sucl services as laundry and dry clean ing; repair of automobiles, boats and electrical household appliances shoe repairing; film developing; commercial printing; rental of colo storage lockers, and many other services performed for hire. If these prices go higher than the March level for the same services, tht customer should immediately pro.