: : 24/7 Tesco : :
Haven’t been catching up on my blog reading yesterday so am now perusing all my links. From Jeff, looks like the limelight is pointed at Tesco’s 24 hours operation.
Some thoughts came to mind after reading the comments :
Mom-and-Pop shops will die out.
Mom-and-Pop shops should start buying and then selling in bulk. There is a successful grocery shop in Tabuan Jaya, Kuching. It is only one shoplot but jam packed with goods that are definitely cheaper than the supermarkets and Giant (the nearest thing to a hypermarket in Kuching). Nearly everyone goes there to buy their groceries. Name? Top Point. And, it’s been there for more than 10 years, I think. Still going on very strong. One can even occasionally find imported foodstuff there as they had to handle competition from Choice Daily, a supermarket specializing in imported food from developed nations (mostly Australia).
Market Demand for a shop that opens 24 hours
Come to think about it, it could be possible. Before 12 a.m., they cater to the professionals working late in the city. After 12 a.m., the shift workers leaving the various factories. If I’m not mistaken, with the 3-shift-a-day rotation, there is a change of shift around midnite, or thereabouts.
Higher prices at checkout points than on the shelves
Translates to taxpayer’s money not being put into good use at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. Adoi! Adoi! Adoi! So, barcode price tags doesn’t solve the problem, eh?
Poor quality fresh food for sale
The same as in any supermarket, be it a big hypermarket or smaller runned operations. Why don’t supermarkets in Malaysia offer the food at cheaper prices just to get rid of it? They lose out at the end of the day for getting rid of rotten stuff. Wonder if it’s because of some regulation in the Ministry preventing supermarkets from doing so, or are supermarkets trying to make a last effort for money.
Why am I talking about this? It’s late and I couldn’t sleep. Time-clock is messed up after last nite’s 3 a.m. check. Also, in the earlier part of the night, one of the neighbouring houses is burning plastic or tires again. The smell is terrible. Argh!