Hands in the till?

Have our grocers been caught in the Net? The Office of Fair Trading is investigating claims that supermarkets charge more online and that they deliver food that is close to its sell-by date. The OFT must, of course, investigate thoroughly but, in the end, if supermarkets are abusing their online customers, it is the market that will really punish them. A supplier will simply emerge who guarantees fair prices and the longest sell-by date on products. And, unlike traditional shoppers, e-customers can take their business elsewhere with the click of a mouse. The web will prove an unforgiving marketplace.