The effect of inflation is getting more apparent as stores continue to raise prices for their items. Recently, budget convenience store Eco-Shop announced a 20-cent price hike on all items nationwide.
Rumours of the price hike surfaced last week after shoppers noticed signboards outside Eco-Shop outlets. The signboard states that all items in the store will be increased by 20 cents starting 14th April 2025 (Monday).
The company then confirmed the rumours through their website and social media earlier today (17th March 2025, Monday), announcing that all items in their stores throughout Peninsular Malaysia will soon increase from RM2.40 to RM2.60 each.
In addition, Eco-Shop stores in Sabah and Sarawak will also see a similar price increase, with items going from RM2.60 to RM2.80 each. The company explained the price hike, saying it was to accommodate rising operating costs while maintaining a good standard of service.
The new price will be effective in mid-April, so shoppers can still enjoy the usual RM2.40 and RM2.60 prices until the end of Ramadan and into the early days of Hari Raya. Understandably, the news wasn’t so well-received by customers and netizens.
Some netizens lamented the price hike, saying they would shop at other budget convenience stores instead. Others said purchasing items online is cheaper than going to a physical store. However, many supported Eco-shop, saying the price hike is manageable and the items are still affordable.
It’s also worth mentioning that this isn’t Eco-Shop’s first price hike since it started operations in 2003. The company was previously known as the “RM2 shop” as all items were only RM2. However, Eco-shop later increased prices by 10- and 20-cent increments in the recent decade. In 2023, the company’s CEO, Jessica Ng, also said Eco-shop would try to maintain prices at RM2.40 for at least five years.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you saddened by Eco-shop’s price hike? Or do you think it was inevitable?
Sources: Facebook, The Rakyat Post
