Are we being robbed? The hidden costs in our daily shopping

Picture this: you walk into a shop, buy something that costs N$10.95 and hand over N$11. The cashier tells you they don’t have five cents to give you as change. You shrug it off, thinking it’s just a small amount. But what if this happens every day, to every customer? Slowly but surely, the cents add up, and you’re unknowingly paying more than the price tag.

This practice has become alarmingly common in many of Namibia's retail stores, particularly those owned by large foreign companies.

Customers are often shortchanged with the excuse that there are no coins available, especially the smaller denominations of five and 10 cents. While a few cents may seem insignificant at first glance, these small amounts, when multiplied across thousands of transactions daily, can result in substantial profits for these businesses, all at the expense of ordinary Namibians.

The silent theft

Namibian shoppers have expressed growing frustration over this issue. "It’s not about the five cents. It’s about fairness," says Simusolia Kambonde, a shopper in Windhoek. "If I’m even a cent short, they won’t give me my goods. But when they owe me change, they simply say they don’t have it. It’s unfair."

The practice of not returning small change isn't just a minor inconvenience. It's a widespread problem that flies under the radar of most people. Every cent taken without being returned is, in essence, theft. This is especially concerning considering that many of these stores are large, foreign-owned businesses with significant financial resources.

Millions in lost change

Let’s break down the numbers roughly. Suppose a shop sees 1 000 customers a day, and 500 of those transactions involve not returning five cents. That adds up to N$25 per day, or N$750 per month. Across multiple stores, this quickly escalates to thousands of Namibian dollars being pocketed by retailers.

On a national scale, with hundreds of thousands of transactions occurring every day, the total amount of unreturned change could easily reach into the millions annually. These are millions that rightfully belong to Namibian consumers – but instead, they are quietly enriching large corporations.

The double standard

What is even more frustrating for consumers is the double standard. Try paying five cents less than the total, and you’ll be told to come up with the full amount. No product will be handed over until every cent is accounted for. But when the situation is reversed and the store owes you change, they simply dismiss it as insignificant.

This inconsistent treatment has led many to feel like they are being taken advantage of. "We are being robbed, plain and simple," says Johannes Shiwedha. "These businesses are making millions off of unsuspecting Namibians, and it is time we take a stand."

Furthermore, the Namibian government and consumer protection agencies need to step in and address this issue. Clear regulations should be enforced to ensure that all businesses, regardless of size or ownership, provide the correct change to their customers. If coins are genuinely in short supply, then retailers should round prices in a way that is fair to consumers.

In the meantime, Namibians can take matters into their own hands by demanding their full change at the point of sale. Even small amounts matter, and by raising awareness and pushing back against this practice, consumers can protect their hard-earned money.

In a nutshell, we as Namibians work hard for every cent, and it’s only fair that we get what we’re owed. The problem of unreturned change may seem minor, but it highlights a larger issue of inequality and exploitation by large retailers. Let’s start paying attention to those FIVE cents – because they represent more than just small change; they represent fairness and respect for the people of this country.

It’s time we take a stand against this silent theft and demand the respect we deserve in every transaction. Every cent counts.