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fredag den 25. august 2023

Fredagsfrustration :: Sorte supermarkeder

Friday Frustrations :: Black Supermarkets

... og nej, ikke noget ulovligt her. Det drejer sig om farver og stemning i en supermarkedskæde nær dig og mig. I gamle dage var den gul, discountgul, med sorte dimser og dutter, gangene var lidt snævre og af og til rodede, men hyggelige. Og stemningen var  .. lettere kaotisk, men rar.
     Så byggede den ene efter den anden om, farverne byttede plads, alting blev grå-sort (antracit heder den farve vist) med gule dimser og dutter. Gangene blev brede, hylder og kølemontere ligeså, loftet blev lavthængende og sortmalet, jeg fristes til at kalde udseenedt let truende.

Og så musikken. Ret høj, og så bestående af alle de numre der ikke nåede ind på hitlisterne for fem år siden. Hvorfor dog det? Dem der gerne vil høre musik mens de køber ind, har deres egne playlister med i lommen og deres earpods solidt plantet i øregangen. Vi andre, der gerne vil slippe for den grumme muzak ... vi kan altså ikke få en liste med "Stilhed tilsat de normale lyde i et supermarked".
     Hvorfor prøver de at skræmme kunderne væk? Før tussede jeg ofte rundt og kiggede på ugens sære tilbud, nu griber jeg en kurv, snupper de varer, der står på huskesedlen - heldigvis er layoutet stort set det samme fra butik til butik, så det går hurtigt - tjekker lynhurtigt reolen med datovarer og haster hen til kassen. Så håber jeg bare at køen ikke er for lang.

 -- 🟡 ◆ 🟡 ◆ 🟡 ◆ 🟡 ◆ 🟡 --

... no I have not discovered something illegal here. This concerns a chain of supermarkets near me, you and everybody in Denmark. It's about the colours and atmosphere of these supermarkets. Before the changes the colour scheme was yellow, discount yellow, with black accents, the aisles were a bit narrow, a bit overflowing, but cosy, and the atmosphere was ... slightly chaotic, but homey.

Then one after another they got a makeover, the colours swapped places, everything became grey-black, anthracite I think it's called, with yellow bits and bobs. The corridors became wide, the shelves broad and squat, the ceiling became low-hanging and black, I'm tempted to call it threatening in a the sky is falling way.

And then the music. Quite loud, and consisting of all the songs that didn't make it into the charts five years ago. Why do they do that? Those who want to listen to music while shopping have their own playlists in their pockets and their ear-pods firmly planted in their ears. The rest of us who want to avoid the horrible muzak ... we can't get a list with "Silence with the normal sounds of a supermarket".

Why are they trying to scare away their customers? I used to browse around looking at the week's weird offers, now I grab a basket, snatch the items on my list - luckily the layout is pretty much the same from store to store, so it's quick - quickly check the shelves with short date items and rush to the checkout. Then I just hope the queue isn't too long.

Før og efter logoer  -- 🟡 ◆ 🟡 -- Before and after logos

10 kommentarer:

  1. Sigh.
    Our supermarkets have a 'quiet' hour once a week for those with sensory challenges. Music/musak is turned off and the lights are dimmed. When we can that is the hour in which we shop.

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    1. Man! I'm going to write those supermarkets and suggest a quiet hour! This would be so nice, only just the music turned off, it's enough gloomy with dark everywhere and low ceilings.
      Funny thing is that the supermarkets in general stopped having this awful music quite some time ago. This is a huge step back.

      Slet
  2. If there was another store nearby with the items I needed I would switch and never go back. Having a quiet hour would be nice, but you might find the store crammed with even more people who don't like the music.

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    1. There isn't another option. All brand stores are rather split up, with each chain selling their own brand, not distributed by others. The brands we like, are only sold here or a long way away by bus each direction.
      I don't mind people ;) And if it was a success maybe they'll extend it, or even turn off the music at all times.

      Slet
  3. A chain of stores here started the quiet hour once a week as well. It is marketed as a time when autistic folks and others who prefer quiet time can shop. I love it, and I feel very upset when folks don't obey the "rules" of being quiet. It has made me realize how much music and loud noises cause me stress, which I usually just absorb and then come home to decompress. All that is a long way of saying I hope you get some results from writing to the supermarkets. There are many people out there who would benefit! If you still have a local newspaper, maybe they'd do an article on it too. It would bring out the people who would like it and the supermarkets might realize it would benefit their business to implement it.

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    1. I mailed them with this suggestion. Their reply was a politey worded "Forget about it!"

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    2. I am sorry to hear it. I know so many people who relish the quiet hour.

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    3. I would too, and more people I know.

      Slet
  4. Most of the "muzak" here (however it's spelled) isn't so horrible, at least to me, but some of it is irritating and I'm sure there are people who would love a quiet hour.

    The redecorating sounds like a nightmare.

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    1. Both is nightmarish in that place, the muzak is loud! hitting as a wall of sound when you enter the premises, and the shiny new, kind of light absorbing furniture makes shopping a kafkask experience. I wonder why and how anyone ever thought this out. I would do so for the competition, not for my own brand.

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