The Supermarket

Every country has its own quirks when it comes to selling food, be it in an outside market, a neighborhood mini-mart or a supermarket. Israel is, of course, no exception, especially when it comes to supermarkets.

In Tel Aviv one has a number of options of where to shop for food. There is the Carmel Shuk (outdoor market) that sells cheap fruits and veggies, there is a chain of mini marts called AM:PM that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 364 days a year (you can guess which day it is closed on) and there are a number of supermarkets to choose from.

Like most people, I frequent the supermarket closest to my house and everything about the place amuses me. For example, there are shopping carts in this supermarket that people push up and down the aisles (and these don’t even need a quarter or 5 shekel piece to unlock it from the rest). However, when you go to check out, the carts do not fit through the check out aisles so you are forced to leave them in front of the magazine rack. This then causes a pile up of carts, which makes it difficult for people to stand in line. It is someone’s responsibility to collect these carts as they are discarded, but if he is on a cigarette break then you often have a maze of carts to weave through in order to pay for your items. It is even more amusing when someone tries to push it through because it is either their first time in the supermarket or they think that they can just barely get it by. Trust me, it doesn’t work.

Supermarkets in Israel have sale circulars, like in the US, but they also have sale items that one can purchase at the checkout if one spends enough money. These items are usually crammed in next to the cash register and for customers who reach the allotted amount, the cashier will then ask if they would like to buy any of these items and then proceed to inform them (and everyone behind them) what the sale price is and any other details you may (or may not) want to know. This process can get very repetitive and annoying. It reminds me of a salesman who knocks on your door, asks you if you would like to purchase something and then 5 minutes after you say no and shut the door, you hear another knock.

And of course, my favorite thing to see in a supermarket, and really any public place that has a line, is that person who asks if you are the last in line, declares that he is behind you and then continues to shop. He returns right before it is your turn, expecting to be graciously let back into line, because after all he did claim his spot by announcing that he was after you and is faced with numerous scowls, grunts and rude comments.

Just one of the many joys of living in Israel.