Ability to read?. OP started this thread by complaining that supermarkets were profiteering by inflating prices.

Ability to use the quote function properly, so people know who you are actually responding to? You quoted me, you numpty.

Ability to be polite!. You do understand the difference between Sales and Profits, right? That companies calculate their profit over a full year? That there is such a thing as Cost of Sales?

Yes, during March supermarkets had record Sales growth driven by panic buying of items such as cleaning products, pasta, frozen food and toilet rolls. In UK shelves were completely emptied as people were scared there would be no food. Supermarkets also benefited from closures of pubs and restaurant as consumers purchase for the "restaurant style" meal cooked at home

What we have seen is a seismic shift in purchase patterns. Will record sales growth beyond the short term be sustained? What are the forecasts Q3 and Q4?

Consumers panic buying non-perishable and frozen produce are hoarding not consuming. They are not repeating that initial buying frenzy on a frequent basis. The cost of bringing the food from source to shop also needs to be factored in. Supply/logistics chains are disrupted and costs likely to increase over the next few months. To compensate front line supermarket workers, salaries have increased. As money tightens are consumers still purchasing high profit margin items (Desserts alcohol etc). What are the margins on non-food items (clothes etc) that are now sidelined.



It remains to be seen whether supermarkets will post record profits at the end of their current financial year or not. And, yes, I am highly qualified and been extremely well paid to make this analysis.

It is reported: https://www.thelocal.ch/20200325/swi...at-risk-groups

"The initiative has however attracted criticism, with some arguing that the supermarket chain - which like most others in Switzerland and elsewhere has seen profits increase as a result of the outbreak - should employ delivery staff to assist the at risk, rather than a team of volunteers. "

Anyway I don't engage in pedantry, so I will leave you to it.

Hmm nobody mentioned the petrol prices yet. Gas in Germany 1eur, CH 1.45chf.

Finally some on-track discussion! Totally understand the knee-jerk reaction of forum fanatics to start defending anything less-than-laudatory about their beloved "genossenschafts" like Coop and Migros. But I'm afraid people are missing the mark. The point is merely that in "Complaints Corner" section of the forum someone has posted that some businesses appear to be using the Covid-19 crisis for profiteering / bad customer service.

It is in no way an attack on working staff. I have great respect for all service staff, be in grocers, bakers, SBB, Post or the invisible powerplant workers, garbage collectors, street cleaners who continue to diligently work at 4 AM. Irrespective of Coronavirus, their services are always appreciated. What needn't be tolerated even a bit is the implicit presumption that the crisis gives them (or anyone) a license to offer poorer service or be lax at duties. This wouldn't be appreciated regardless of the type of job, regardless of nationality of the person providing service. May be migrant workers were better and more diligent afterall?

Same goes for pricing. Keeping a shop open doesn't give anyone a license to engage in price gouging. It has always been illegal. Be it war, virus outbreak or any kind of emergency, there's still (I hope) some regulation, ethics etc.

For those who want to deny the clear price hikes in grocery stores, I'm glad for you. In Zurich, we're seeing a significant hike in everyday grocery items, not just for tomatoes but several other products. We are seeing a high proportion of products being "misplaced" on shelves. Always costlier product at cheaper shelves; never the other way. And, so often that it's hard to believe that it's an honest "mistake".

And, it's not a discussion about grocery prices in Switzerland vs EU. It's strictly about identical purchase, at identical place, pre-March 16th / post-March 16th: i.e. the darkest day in business ethics - whatever little of it was left anyway.

Umhhhhhh

No change in prices where I live. And after the initial "oh we need to stock up on TP" hype, everything as available as before and at the same price.

Yes, getting stir crazy (and now wish I hadn’t sold that fitness machine a few years ago), but have enough toilet paper, zucchini, broccoli or anything you need really.

hand sanitiser, Migros, Swiss-made - seems to be a new product. nearly 15chf/bottle... There was about 10 bottles of it left at the checkout at our local Migros yesterday.


My son reckons it's probably cheaper to use Vodka...

...but sadly not effective. Needs to be at least 60% alcohol, the stuff you buy here is usually only 40%.

Where on earth are you buying yours? It’s around 1.30chf a litre around here.

Lucky you, yes, still that price further up north.

Indeed EEK! Sometimes I do wish there were more buttons rather than groan or thanks that better describes my thoughts. Then saw Netflixbuff only very recently joined EF so likely a sad bored troll

All I can say is I’m very happy that I don’t live in Zurich, we’ve seen none of that here.

I live in that area, nothing like that here either.

No clue where she is shopping, but if for certain ain't in Zürich.

I expected disruptions in the supply chain right from the start of the crisis and some people got pretty angry. Funny how people change their mind.

And @OP - some prices will go up, it's a question of demand and supply. Live with it. We were privileged before but weren't aware of it.
Use everything you have wisely, I'm amazed how little to non-existent food waste we have these days. You can get creative and savvy in the kitchen, make the most out of everything. Memories of me throwing away perfectly good vegetables or fruit because they were too "tired" seem distant now.....lol.

Unfounded claim. Both, actually.

You're trying to use thelocal (of all potential sources!!!) to make an argument from authority where there's none.

If you live in Neuchatel "city" or thereabouts you're almost a next-door neighbor of the refinery in Cressier. Obviously that reduces a lot of costs, including storage and transport.