Deke

Who put the super in market? And why? I think we should be told.

Sunday, April 10, 2011 6:50:43 PM

maths, stupidity, rant, supermarkets, shopping, Money, capitalism, arithmetic, shops

I've just seen another of those programmes where small businesses claim that supermarkets are putting them out of business and the supermarkets say that the fact that people are shopping with them proves that it's the supermarkets they want.

I figure that to run a really successful supermarket chain you can't be a mathematical idiot, so I have to face the option that they are therefore deliberately playing with the figures. I've probably already moaned about this before but humour me, tell me where my figures are wrong.

If a small shopkeeper needs 100 customers a day and he has 120, then he's happy, and so are his customers, but if over 20 customers a day desert him for a supermarket then he's no longer in profit and has to shut down. When he shuts down the remaining customers have no choice but to go to the supermarket.

The fact that all 120 customers have now gone to the supermarket does not prove that it's what they wanted. It proves that they no longer have any choice.

Am I right, or am I left?

Stop giving us money I tell you!That item of clothing that people argue over what it's called and how to spell it.

Comments

Loiscakkleberrylane # Monday, April 11, 2011 4:56:41 PM

You're right. I just went to a lighting seminar and the instructor suggested that people should buy equipment from a local dealer rather than the big shops on line because the small retail store usually has more knowledgable employees who can help with the customer's questions and are able to make suggestions about what the customer needs (and doesn't need) as well as providing better customer service. I have always preferred to shop at the smaller shops for exactly this reason. Surprisingly, prices are not usually any higher either.

And it sure beats when I last asked at a big store for information about a product - all the salesman could do was read to me what was on the box, I could have done that myself.

Deke # Monday, April 11, 2011 10:07:05 PM

I've had that. In PCWorld I asked a specific question about a computer and the sales boy looked mystified for a moment and then said "Well it's got..." as he traced the letters on the description card with his finger.