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Porlock pharmacist will not ask his staff to work harder for Chancellor's pennies

Local pharmacy has come up with a novel way of responding to the recent decrease in the rate of VAT.

Taking into consideration the workload of his already busy staff and fairness towards his customers, Mike Lawrie, pharmacist and manager of Porlock Pharmacy, has made the decision that items in his store that are subject to VAT will remain at the same price during December and the 2.5% will be calculated from the month's takings and given back to the community in the form of a donation to local charities.

Mike (right) with his staff on Porlock's late night shopping 2007

Mr Lawrie said: "At Porlock Pharmacy we have upwards of 10,000 items, all of which have to be priced by hand. To implement a re-pricing strategy with only a week's notice at the busiest time of year would have been well nigh impossible.

"However, to do nothing would have meant us earning extra at the expense of our customers. A compromise had to be made and we thought the fairest thing was to give the excess 2.5% back to our community in the form of a donation."

Last week's announcement of the reduction in VAT by 2.5% which comes into force today, 1st December, has meant every VAT registered business in the country must make changes in the way they administer this tax. Though many can achieve this by changes in the computer system, for some Alistair Darling's ‘gift' to consumers will come at a high price. Most hit will be the small, independently owned retailers like hardware stores, pharmacies and corner shops who stock thousands of individually priced items.

What do you think?

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Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Posts: 18

At 12:16 on 1st December 2008, Aislinn R commented:

The new VAT rate is almost an impossible task to implement at such notice for small independent retailers by the sound of things but what a wonderful idea of handing 'the surplus' back to the Community. Will people know which charities will benefit?

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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 80

At 15:13 on 1st December 2008, R H commented:

That's a great idea, I hope it catches on and other businesses do the same.

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Posts: 12

At 16:07 on 1st December 2008, Clara Lawrie responded:

Thank you for your comment, Aislinn. I understand that Porlock's church bells will be receiving the Chancellor's 'gift'. The church is central to the Porlock community, not only among church goers, it also has historical value which attracts visitors to the area.

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