Gone are the days when shoppers were seen walking out of a supermarket with their trolleys piled high. With prices of foodstuffs and consumer products skyrocketing of late, the buying behavior of many has undergone a sea change. In many cases, semi-empty carts have become a common sight and many people have started looking for bargain prices at different shopping malls. Some others have resorted to buy goods in bulk to save their hard-earned money. “With price hikes becoming a bitter reality, those with low or constant incomes are seeking to adjust their budget by slashing their shopping to the minimum or looking for cheaper substitutes,” Dr. Fathi Khalifa of the Economics Department at Taif University said, Al-Watan reported on Saturday. He argues that the changing behavior will have only a limited impact on increase in prices. “This is only a short-term trend. People will get used to the price hike,” he said. Tareq Farouq, sales manager at a supermarket, indicated that many shoppers are currently spending more time checking out prices and looking for cheaper substitutes. He indicated that sales have plunged considerably as some shoppers are buying only necessary items in small quantities to avoid spoilage and waste. “Expatriates in particular look for lowest prices and are most interested in promotional offers,” he said. According to a salesman, Ali Al-Adini, many customers have started shopping at large stores listed on the index of Riyadh Mayoralty. Hussein Tuwara, manager of a wholesale market in Eteiqah, said number of clients has gone down by 20 percent when compared to a pre-price hike period. The sale of consumer items has also gone down considerably, he said. Saudi shopper Abdulrahman Al-Mefreh said he is currently adopting a new shopping style: “I buy in small quantities and only as needed by my family,” he said. Ali Al-Zahrani, also a Saudi, said cheaper canned food, beverages and juices serve the purpose and that there is no need to buy expensive items. “Prices have gone up to the point that those living on low incomes can no longer afford to buy many items. This is why I was forced to give up some of the items I used to purchase and focus on the absolutely necessary ones,” he said. Abdulrahman Al-Dosari, another Saudi, said by buying in wholesale, he was able to save 50 percent on his shopping bill. __
