Consumers will be able to choose the price they pay on appliances and white goods thanks to a new initiative launched by Home Zone this week.

They will have the selection of three options to allow them to make an informed choice and encourage shoppers to buy locally, helping to overcome the perception that goods purchased in Bermuda are more expensive and providing a boost during these tough economic times.

The three pricing packages include - basic, classic and premium.

The basic package costs the price of the product with delivery to Best Shipping in New Jersey, which is comparable to buying from a US vendor or online, while the customer arranges the shipping and pays the duty and any other cost on the appliance.

The classic deal means that Home Zone pays the duty, arranges the shipping to their premises in<\p>Bermuda and includes a 30-day guarantee, with customers arranging delivery to their door.

The premium option includes duty, delivery to the door and a one-year warranty, giving the buyer peace of mind and eliminates the hassle of having to arrange delivery. An example of the price differentiation would be a GE washing machine, which costs $428 on the basic package, $529 on the classic and $895 on the premium.

Tom Nelmes, vice-president of Home Zone and is a long-standing advocate of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce's Buy Local campaign, said from research his company had done that each package applies to different people, depending on whether they simply want the goods or if they want support in the form of installation and back-up in the event something goes wrong or it needs repairing.

"The new structure speaks to people's sensibilities, and everyone tends to naturally fall into one category or another - some people want the cheapest price possible, others want peace of mind and no hassle, others want somewhere in between," he said.

"The key message here is value, and we want to make sure people know they are getting the best value from Home Zone."

Home Zone's campaign is being supported by the Chamber, with Kristi Grayston, chair of the retail division, said it was a good opportunity for both the customer and the retailer - with the former getting to choose their own price and level of service. "We think this campaign will really help Bermudians further understand the way things are priced in Bermuda, and encourage peopel to Buy Local, at a price that they fully understand," she said.

"Allowing people to choose a price that is comparable to a US<\p>retailer is a great idea, and the different packages allow people to judge good value for themsleves."