on dignity when shopping
Today I needed to buy some household essential items, as this morning I had used up my last bar of soap. I greatly miss the experience of shopping in Germany, where you just walk in and buy what you need like a regular person.
Outside was cold and damp. When I got to the medium-end grocery store frequented by students at my college, I was met with a plastic gate flanked by boxes of beverages, blocking entrance to the merchandise. I felt overwhelmed by the ads, the flimsy neon-colored signs screaming at me about discounts.
They were out of the brand of soap that I like, so I made a note to look for it at a second store on my way home. Upon finding the empty shelf, the pop song that had been playing in the background immediately transitioned into a loud voice aggressively pitching an advertisement. 20% advertisements, with the rest music. I don't need music when I'm shopping. I'd gladly give that up if it meant being free of ads – I hate the way ads seep into every corner of our lives.
At the self checkout, where I spent nearly $50 on simple basic hygiene items that would have cost €15 or €20 in Germany, I found the exit from the store blocked by the same plastic gate. You have to display your receipt before being allowed to exit, and a police officer stands against the wall just in case you decide you don't want to deal with this. There is no "innocent until proven guilty" – you're assumed to be a potential shoplifter by default, and must prove your innocence in order to exit this capitalist prison. I miss being treated with dignity.
The pharmacy that I stopped at on the way back did have the soap I wanted, but it was behind a locked shelf. I hate these. Apparently, one-third of all customers, faced with them, will simply move on without buying that item in question - for obvious reasons. You're being treated like you can't be trusted to even touch an item you might want to buy. Really? Infantilize your customers so much that they have to ask permission to look at a bar of soap up close before purchasing it? I noticed the plastic shield was broken slightly, and the gap was just wide enough to fish out the soap I wanted. Why even have this barrier, cheap retail outlets? All it does is show the customer how little you think of them.