The Oligopoly strikes back

so 3 cinemas, holding the bulk of the market, raises prices together AGAIN.

Did i hear something about Singapore being the most 2nd most competitive economy in the world?

these analysts don't watch movie, pump petrol, take MRT and buses, do they?

The CFEA's chairman, Mr Shaw Vee King, who is also Shaw's managing director, said: 'We are no cartel. All along, as an association, we have implemented price increases when we felt it was timely.'

The Straits Times, April 01, 2005

Ok, 3 operators holding 80% of the market, raising the exact same amount in price, on the same day, in unison..... NOT a cartel.
Coming from the land where casinos are termed "integrated resorts".
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cartel or no cartel, they're a pretty brunch of smart dudes.

1) Raise the price just before a major blockbuster.
2) Singaporeans whine and swear laying off cinemas forever....

3) and then the major blockbuster comes and everyone has to catch it at the big screens.
4) Everyone adjusts to it, and forgot about the higher price.
5) Repeat.


watch the movie, you must! $9.50 price, you still lan-lan!

Don't think it will be effective (coz they are not cartel, wad...) but oh well, no harm trying.
http://www.petitiononline.com/sgmovie/petition.html

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Aye! SMRT: Best investment ever!

Record Profit for Fiscal 2004 (ended mar 31): $126.9 million

Return on Equity (ROE) = 24.5 per cent
(my POSB only gives me 0.125 per cent leh)

Only competitor = SBS Transit which btw, also formally applied for an increase in bus and train fares. But they are not a cartel because this is Singapore and there is no cartel in Singapore.

SBSTransit Group Profit Before Tax 2004: $60.125 millions
134.3% improvement over 2003
(Bus and Rail Profits made a 428.1% improvement over 2003)


Alright, maths is boring me.

Hmmm, they need to increase prices to cover increasing oil costs, GST, blah blah (don't understand, so the profit fake one ah?), because they are a private company and need to operate cold-bloodedly efficiently as a private company .

So they are a PRIVATE company that is answerable to their PRIVATE shareholders.


All along, I thought they are handling PUBLIC transport!