On Monday, the first weekday after the Goods & Services Tax (GST) rollout, a vast majority of small retailers and service providers sold their products and services at old rates.
They are either yet to procure a computer and printer, the basic minimum requirement for producing GST- calculated bills or are yet to upgrade the software of the computer as per the new tax regime requirements.
Life did not change for Mostaq Ahmed, a small grocery-cum-stationary outlet owner in Ballygunje Place of South Kolkata. He was selling the products at the same price as he sold till last Friday before the GST rollout.
“A set of three twin-shaving blades will cost the same at Rs 21 as it was last Friday. Similarly, a small tube of shaving cream has remained the same at Rs 35. Most of my customers do not ask for cash receipts. To the very few who are insisting on it, I am providing a hand-written one. If still any customers insist on GST calculated bill, I will have no other option but to request them to visit another shop,” said Mustaq.
“Generally customers ask for cash memos on purchase of medicines. But I am yet to upgrade the software though I have already initiated the process. Right now I am only able to sell medicines to customers who are not insisting on cash receipts. I am losing business and will continue to do so unless the software is upgraded,” said Jayanta Sen, proprietor of a pharmaceutical retail outlet Sen Medico on Bondel Road.
{{/usCountry}}“Generally customers ask for cash memos on purchase of medicines. But I am yet to upgrade the software though I have already initiated the process. Right now I am only able to sell medicines to customers who are not insisting on cash receipts. I am losing business and will continue to do so unless the software is upgraded,” said Jayanta Sen, proprietor of a pharmaceutical retail outlet Sen Medico on Bondel Road.
{{/usCountry}}Tapasi Sarkar, a resident of Picnic Garden told HT with the exception of medicines, she is not insisting on bills or cash memos. “I am happy that so far the prices of regular items have remained same. So I will enjoy it as long as possible. Why do I need bills for a tube of toothpaste or for a pack of beauty cream?” she asked.
“I am fortunate, that my regular clients are not insisting on bills right now. But I am hopeful that my software will be upgraded by Wednesday,” said Swati Sen, owner of a small beauty parlour, Galaxy Beauty, in Kasba area.