The Stories of our Daily Life (3) New Year Shopping

Day in day out, year in year out, once again it is the end of the year, the festival mood spreading around, all over the glove.  End of the year festivals, be the solar calendar end of the year festival, lunar calendar end of the year festival or any other, end of the year festivals, the mood were the same, be it now, in the past or in the future that will be.

One month before New Year, New Year shopping activity not around.  Getting nearer to the New Year, it is three weeks nearer, shopping activity still not there.  Small talks set in, Peter said " It looks like, economic situation for this year was not very good,  you see, we are going to suffer next year, or may be from now on"  John looked at him and said "Looks like you are repeating yourself. Year after year"

Two weeks nearer, the shopper mall, patronage increased, shoppers of all races, all ages and all sexes, all of them were very busy.  The usual daily life of other times, they were also very busy except the mood and the nature of busyness were not quite the same. They smiled; they joked and teased among themselves at this time of the year.  Shopper talked to his friend "Have you noticed that the patronage this year were not as many as last year" His friend echoed "It looks like, it was that way" Then after, they walked and passed by.
Peter looked at John and said "You see, you see, what I mean"

One week nearer, the time was 9.30pm; Peter went over to the hypermarket nearest to his house to look for something to fill his stomach.  The patronage at this hour, it was truly having festival mood, all payment counters were opened and it was also having a long queue at each of the cashier counter. Usually at other times of the year, at this hour, the practice of most of the hypermarkets, they were having discounted items for sales.  The perishable goods, the near date of expired items and many others, sometimes they may have sliced up to 90% discounts.  There were times that Peter had bought some dragon fruits for as low as ten cent per piece.  Tonight, he was disappointed; he could not get his price cut of snacked, sushi or others. There were not many items left for price cut. There were some, price were cut for a miserable discount and also the items were not to his favor.

Peter had no choice; he went to the food court and killing his hunger by taking some donuts and coffee.  His mind was drifting away from the present noisy and near chaos scene. Those other normal days, patronage of the same hypermarket were not so many and only one or two payment counters were opened.  He used to enjoy the discounted snacks.  He used to feel happy that when he became one of the members of discounted items grabbers.

Usually the normal price of an item would remained and until it was re-tagged for a discounted price tag.
He was there once; there were some roasted chicken about two kg. Offered for sale for one ringgit (Ringgit or RM. Note1) and it was grabbed by others the moment it was re-tagged.  One of the other night, some roasted chicken were wrapped up and ready for a re-price tagged, when Peter was there, it was already a small crowd surrounding the counter.  Peter squeezed in and this time he holds the wrapped up chicken with normal price tagged of twelve ringgit.  Others noticed his way of trying to own the discounted item, they started to follow his way and hold those items they favored.

The supervisor came and re-tagged the re-tagged price of chicken that Peter was holding. It was ten ringgit!

Peter looked at it, smiled and put the discounted item back to the counter:

Two days nearer, Peter and John went to the hypermarket. At this time around, the competition among hypermarkets were at the peak. Price cut items were displayed every corners of the hypermarket. Promoters were also here and there.  The hypermarket they were in, this evening, it was nearest to their house, and some of the discounted items were the lowest among the hypermarkets. Peter bought some on behalf for his neighbor.

Peter talked to John " The can drink I have just bought, it was twenty five dollars, normal price was thirty five. But then do you know that last year, the discounted price was thirty dollars, the normal price for last year also thirty five!" John answered "Apparently it did indicate something, it may have some other reasons" He continued "Peter, compare the price, not just only this year and last year, why not five years ago and now,  or ten years ago and now. You will see some other different picture"

Note1. Malaysian currency, ringgit (RM) and sen (cent) or RM means Ringgit Malaysia. About three ringgit = One US dollar.

Next Topic (4) New Year Atmosphere

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