Grrr! Argentine Supermarkets

[Girino]

May I add that asking for ID to anybody who is spending more than $1000, entering manually said DNI on their computer, printing and signing twice the receipt and apparently ancient technology make it a lot painful than necessary?

At my Coto, the cashier has to roll by hand the receipt rolls once finished. I don't know why, maybe they want the rolls to take less space, or they want it rolled by date the inverse way than it is. Anyway is totally a waste of time... oh, but they do it in the deadtimes between lags in the cashing machine...

 

[RichardP]

My Argentine wife flat out asked the cashier at Disco the other day why they took so long to check people out. The reply was " it's the system, and there is nothing that can be done about it."

 

[RodalfoWalsh]

May I add that asking for ID to anybody who is spending more than $1000, entering manually said DNI on their computer, printing and signing twice the receipt and apparently ancient technology make it a lot painful than necessary?

At my Coto, the cashier has to roll by hand the receipt rolls once finished. I don't know why, maybe they want the rolls to take less space, or they want it rolled by date the inverse way than it is. Anyway is totally a waste of time... oh, but they do it in the deadtimes between lags in the cashing machine...

It's the second one. They want the first transaction to be on the outside of the roll instead of the inside with the ink facing in. No idea why they want to do it when there are 15 anxious customers standing in the line though.

 

[citygirl]

Or the ever absurd moment when you realize that it's often cheaper to buy (ej) 5 100g bars of butter than 1 500g bar. More often than not, one larger quantity item is more expensive than multiple smaller quantities of the same item. It defies every ounce of logic and supply chain planning but there you have it - Argentina.

The trick I've found is yes, avoid the supermarkets for as much as possible as said. Go to your local butcher for meat. Go to your local greengrocer for fruit/veggies. Go to the independent supermarkets for last minute needs or a bottle of wine. Ice cream store for ice cream, etc, etc.. And coordinate to do the bulk shopping in one trip to Carrefour/whatever super you go to. And whenever possible, do it on off days/time. IE, go around 10 a.m. on a Sunday. Every self-respecting Argentine is still asleep so you can usually get in/out quite quickly

 

[camberiu]

If you are so unhappy here with groceries and driving I recommend you to go back home where you will find peace, potatoes and beautiful cebollas

 

[semigoodlookin]

Or the ever absurd moment when you realize that it's often cheaper to buy (ej) 5 100g bars of butter than 1 500g bar. More often than not, one larger quantity item is more expensive than multiple smaller quantities of the same item. It defies every ounce of logic and supply chain planning but there you have it - Argentina.

The trick I've found is yes, avoid the supermarkets for as much as possible as said. Go to your local butcher for meat. Go to your local greengrocer for fruit/veggies. Go to the independent supermarkets for last minute needs or a bottle of wine. Ice cream store for ice cream, etc, etc.. And coordinate to do the bulk shopping in one trip to Carrefour/whatever super you go to. And whenever possible, do it on off days/time. IE, go around 10 a.m. on a Sunday. Every self-respecting Argentine is still asleep so you can usually get in/out quite quickly

The Carrefour next to my house is a no go on Sunday's, apart from between 1pm and 5pm, very busy the rest of the day. The same goes for Saturday's, holiday days, and any weekday after 6pm. Sometime on a weekday morning is best, or any day between 1pm and 5pm.

 

[cruizes]

Or the ever absurd moment when you realize that it's often cheaper to buy (ej) 5 100g bars of butter than 1 500g bar. More often than not, one larger quantity item is more expensive than multiple smaller quantities of the same item. It defies every ounce of logic and supply chain planning but there you have it - Argentina.

The trick I've found is yes, avoid the supermarkets for as much as possible as said. Go to your local butcher for meat. Go to your local greengrocer for fruit/veggies. Go to the independent supermarkets for last minute needs or a bottle of wine. Ice cream store for ice cream, etc, etc.. And coordinate to do the bulk shopping in one trip to Carrefour/whatever super you go to. And whenever possible, do it on off days/time. IE, go around 10 a.m. on a Sunday. Every self-respecting Argentine is still asleep so you can usually get in/out quite quickly

last year went to my Coto during the FIFA World Cup. I was the only customer! Yeah!!!!!!!

 

[johnw100]

last year went to my Coto during the FIFA World Cup. I was the only customer! Yeah!!!!!!!

Note to self: Only go to the supermarket every 4 years.

 

[Ceviche]

Some of my hypothesis as to why we have the long lines and waits in Argentina.


* Checkout employees are not well trained
*. Understaffed and looking to save money don't open enough lanes
*. High inflation and having to pay with 100 peso bills

Mainly these three.

 

[ElQueso]

May I add that asking for ID to anybody who is spending more than $1000, entering manually said DNI on their computer, printing and signing twice the receipt and apparently ancient technology make it a lot painful than necessary?...

The limit has been 1000 pesos since I got here in 2006. You'd think with everything else rising, that the government would have upped the factura comun (can never remember which letter it is ) limit to at least 5000 pesos by now.