POLIBIZ
Unfair trade practices killing printing industry
Printing business in Western Visayas particularly in Iloilo is affected and suffering due to the alleged unfair trade practices employed by some printing firms which is very damaging to the entire industry.
One of such firms which allegedly employ dirty tricks to the detriment of the printing industry is the Panorama Printing Inc. owned by an American named Eric Rasmussen. My sources say, the said printing company has the habit of lowering down its prices below industry level eventually killing healthy competition. It is also fond of pirating people from other printing companies instead developing their own talents.
Aside from offering below industry level prices, Panorama is teaching young students the "art of corruption and prostitution" by giving them dole outs just to ensure that the students have their printing jobs with them.
The juicy offers which students could hardly ignore include billeting to first class hotels in the metropolis; others are offered expensive mobile phones of their choice, trip to Hongkong not to mention the rebates as a come-on in exchange of a contract.
This is how low Rasmussen's Panorama would go down just to kill competition, not knowing that such acts eventually kill the entire industry.
It seems he doesn't give a damn on the chain of destructive effects it could bring to the printing industry as long as his company continues to earn.
He has no qualms cutting half the price or even much lower below than the prevailing industry price to attract more clients.
Fortunately, some of its clients have realized they were taken in for a ride by Panorama Printing Inc. as they were being treated like a milking cow.
One good example is John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (JBLCF). It has awaken from years of slumber doing business with Panorama when the management eventually decided to undergo bidding process every time they have printing transactions. JBLCF used to print with Panorama.
They have found out that all those times Panorama has charged them about 50% more compared with other printing companies offering the same services.
Well, hopefully people from the University of San Agustin (USA) would soon wake up and realize also that they are apparently being milked by Panorama. I've heard the said printing firm is lucky enough to monopolize printing transactions at San Ag. And they offer sky high prices at that! Attention PTA and student councils!
Rasmussen being a rich American citizen could have contributed a lot serving the Ilonggos or the Filipinos as a whole if he has engaged himself in businesses which could result into a transfer of technology benefiting local companies. With that, Filipinos could have been thankful to him. Sad to say, it seems that he is ill-advised.
For the information of the public, Rasmussen's Panorama has once committed a blatant deception against one printing firm about three years ago. It could be proof that Panorama has been engaged in shadowy tricks ever since.
Excerpt of the "special report" which came out in TNT December 13-19, 2002:
"People have full trust in banks. Proof is they entrust their money into it. And to maintain their client's trust and confidence banks employ measures that would guarantee the safety of their client's money.
However, would you believe that despite the stringent measures they employ, banks could still be outwitted?
Last November 14, 2002, a collector of Panorama Printing Inc. was able to get a check worth P28, 746.36 supposedly intended for Makinaugalingon Printer and Bookbinder from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office VI. As to how and why the check was given to the said collector despite bearing the name "Pay to the order of Makinaugalingon Printer & Bookbinder" is one big question.
But, what is more intriguing is the fact that such check was successfully deposited into the account of panorama Printing Inc., the following day of November 15 at Allied Bank Jaro Branch. For reasons only known to the said bank it accepted the check for deposit and managed to have it cleared although the said check belongs to another company. Subsequently, when Makinaugalingon tried to collect the said amount later on, DOT called the attention of Panorama Printing Inc.
As a result Panorama issued a company check of the same amount to Makinaugalingon for the account of DOT on December 3, 2002, sort of admitting that they had committed such a blatant deception.
Rosendo Mejica II, General Manager of Makinaugalingon Printer & Bookbinder, said he is contemplating to file appropriate charges against the bank and Panorama Printing Inc. He believes that there is some sort of malice on the part of the bank and the said printing firm reason why the "defective" transaction was consummated. He said that the act had caused damages on the good name of Makinaugalingon.
He added that the completion of the said transaction puts into question the credibility of the said bank. He finds it hard to believe that such "defective" transaction passed upon the stringent measures employed by the bank to protect their clients."
Unfortunately, all the necessary documents and hard evidences in filing a complaint against Panorama mysteriously got lost so appropriate cases were not filed against persons involved.
But somehow, the culprit was properly identified.