There was a time I believed that super markets were my friend. Almost family. After all, it's where I bought the foods necessary to 'keep on kickin.' I also had a soft spot for super markets because it's where I got my first real job, stock boy, bagger.
But I have since learned differently. Super markets are just like any other business outfit. They're out to get money, yours. Sure, they allow little girls to parade out front to sell their girl scout cookies. And they give front and center space to boy scouts to hawk popcorn. In December, they even give Santa Claus a break from his sleigh to collect money from the needy. But for all the altruistic forms they take, there's a method to their madness - pull dead presidents from your wallet.
Why am I shaking a finger at super markets, you ask? The simple answer is, I don't like being taken for a fool. I understand that super markets are businesses that are driven to make money. They, too, have to answer to a boss, stockholders. But they cloak themselves in warm and fuzzy guises and practice deceit, slight of hand, and bait and switch tactics to generate the revenue they need. How dare they.
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If super markets want to be sincere about getting close to their customers, here are some suggestions I'd like to offer:
Give us the sale price on pershiable goods before they start to spoil. Stop the practice of giving us one price point on the shelf and another, higher price, at the cash register (when we're less likely to return the item).
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They should wage war against food manufacturers who use packaging tricks to scam us into paying more for less product. Finally, they should stop having us clip coupons. Nowadays, everything is coded. Why not code in the sale price of goods so that they ring up at the register without the need of a coupon (this idea could save advertising and postage dollars).
Now, I seriously doubt my rave will have any effect on the way super markets conduct business. They make money hand over fist. But the message I want to send to consumers is this: Be wise to the not-so-friendly ways of super markets.
