People are slaves to the supermarkets.

People are slaves to the supermarkets.

Nowadays it is almost impossible to find a person who has never done shopping in a supermarket. Due to the tax exemption introduced by the government, there is an innumerous amount of huge supermarkets in Poland which people at once have got accustomed to visit and spend there a lot of time.
The phenomenon of supermarkets underlies in their tricks used to appeal the clients. Examples of such are: the arrangement of products, the bright illumination of vegetables, fruit, fish, tempting smell of fresh-baked bread or queues by the cash desks to draw attention to small snacks and newspapers standing near. All of it makes you carry weighing tones bags of products which you would not buy ever in a small community shop.
The biggest trap which people fall into is the special offers with attractive low prices. First of all, the cut-price is sometimes scanty or any and concerns only a few products presented in the information news-sheet. Consequently, rest of the products is more expensive and by buying a lot of things little money is saved. Often the earlier higher price is made up to show the comparison but in fact it does not really exist. Secondly, the lower price is simultaneous with the lower quality. The products to be discounted are made specially for it. The best example is a washing powder bought on a discount which does not really wash even if it is Ariel Platinum. Thirdly, it is known that if a certain product must be sold like a sweater which is not extraordinary, the much worse, faded blouse but at the same price is located near the first one to let you think you buy a really nice sweater comparing to the second one. However, the latter is used only to advertise and does not need to be sold at all.
Fortunately, the mentioned above elements of supermarkets hurt nothing but your wallet. Though, there are many dangers coming from supermarkets like spending there much more time than it is necessary for buying. It is proved that the average time spent by clients on shopping in a supermarket in Western Europe is about 90 minutes. Fashion of doing shopping on Sundays instead of sitting at home in the family circle playing various games has dominated the society. Tasting, displays for children, competitions are doing their best to keep you inside and stimulate the market.
What’s more the industrial giants show no consideration for other production and delivery firms which have no chance to compete in the battle of clients. No to be put back, the smaller businesses have to accept, sometimes unprofitable conditions which dictate the powerful giants. For example: establishing prices on the verge of profitability, organizing special offers on which the goods without knowledge of producers are sold on the lower price than the purchase price which as a result can lead to his bankruptcy, imposing high charges for renting the most attractive shelves, transferring a loss caused by clients or staff on the suppliers and many other techniques cause that full of allure small shops where you can have a chat with a well-known shopkeeper always preparing you the goods you are usually buying, are condemned to failure. They do not have so big finance supplies but they must pay their suppliers at once, not as in the supermarkets where the payment date is conveniently prolonged. The presence of supermarkets also has influence on farmers which must provide ideal-shaped vegetables and fruits grown no matter with or without chemicals. Everything must look perfect not necessarily be healthy or tasty. The manufactures have to rearrange their policy to meet supermarkets’ requirements even if it means deteriorating the standard of production.
The term slavery was not used by coincidence. The supermarkets excessively exploit a number of workers who due to growing unemployment decide to work on every condition. They do not pay for overtime, disobey as well labour as safety and hygienic laws. The employees by the cash desks sit long hours without opportunity to drink, eat or go to toilet. The most extreme example of it is that some women wear nappies. Some time ago, it was heard about horrible conditions which Biedronka’s employees have to work on. Carrying unbelievably heavy palettes with goods, even for women turned out to be their everyday routine.
Bearing everything in mind, is it possible to avoid buying in the supermarkets and not become their slaves? Honestly, I dare claim that it has gone too far to stop it. Yet let’s try not to be so naive and give in fashion. Doing considerable shopping meaning buying only what you really need and doing it with full stomach can help you not to stuck in the supermarket for hours but allows you to come back home soon and lie down on your favourite sofa with newspaper in your hand. And even though you forget something to buy, you can always go to the “Jadzia’s” shop, be nicely welcomed and served. As far as the producers and yhe employees are concerned, some law regulations and protection on the part of government should be introduced to give equal opportunity. The supermarkets are the superpowers but cannot play a decisive role in free trade. Only diversity of economic subjects guarantees growth and development. The flood of Western inventions should improve our lives for the better.