Advantages and disadvantages of big supermarkets

The worlds first famous supermarket was opened in the USA in 1912 and the idea soon spread to Europe and other countries. The shopping scene in Poland has also changed over the past ten years. Empty shelves and long lines are things of the past. Today trade is alive and very busy.

Shopping has become a part of our everyday life, of course some people love it and some do not. We have become witnesses of the growth of big stores and shopping centres. All of them are beautifly decorated and are opened for the whole day and weekends.

This enormus place has plenty advantages and disadventeges. It is designed in such a way that the shoppers have to go a certain route from the entrance to the cash point near the exit. The customer is guided past all the most popular production display and therby encouraged to buy items he would have forgotten to buy. You don`t have carry things but you just take a trolley.

It is a very convenient way of shopping because you can choose the product you want from a large range and you have the possiblity to get to know the new products. You are served in a very polite way and no one makes you hurry because other shoppers are waiting behind you. The variety of goods is so great that you are given time to decide what to choose. Supermarkets can be called “the all in one shop” because they offer products of every kind. There are departments specializing in: food for people and pets, clothes, tools, books and magazines, electronic equipment, souvenirs and many other. It is not only high – quality assortment that attracts people but also its lighting of high intensity and its clean and hygienic atmosphere with, as I mentioned before, the possiblity to do all your shopping in one store.

Add to this an adjacent car park where you can wheel your trolley to your car, load your stuff into your car boot and leave a basket or a trolley nearby to be collected by the store attendant. In this way shopping becomes a pleasure instead of a nightmare. also find there a restaurant, a cafe, and a special place for kids to play while their mothers are shopping.

There is also a possiblity to pay by cheque or a credit card and vouchers. If something goes wrong with your products, you simply show your receipt and you are given a new one or your money back.

Not to forget about sales and special offers such as “buy one get one free” or “two for the price of one” are always found there.

One the other hand shopping in supermarkets can be annoying because there is a wide choice which can cause confusion.

People often buy unnecessary things because they seem to have good price and you buy things that you did not plan to buy earlier. This is called impulse buying. Attractive packing and displays persuade people to buy things they do not actually need. For many of us the major disadvantage of shopping in supermarkets is that it is time consuming and it takes a while to get there and back.

Big stores are also quite dangerous for all small shops owned by private people. And those shops may be the only source of living for them.

To conclude I would like to express my opinion in that matter. I think that supermarkets are great inventions and the more of them the better. It is a good way to spend your free time and relax shopping.