Humorous Essay Explores Supermarket Shopping and Consumer Psychology
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
A humorous essay by Hedi Ben-Amr details the author's experiences with impulse buying at a supermarket and the frustratingly slow checkout process. He uses personal anecdotes and observations to critique modern marketing tactics and inefficient payment systems.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Author Hedi Ben-Amr humorously critiques supermarket marketing and checkout lines.
- He describes impulse buying seven kilograms of fish after being called 'man' by a fishmonger.
- The essay details the author's frustration with slow checkout queues and payment methods.
- He jokes about fetching ancient tablets to record his payment due to delays.
The author, Hedi Ben-Amr, a writer and member of Yad Hanah, shares a humorous personal essay reflecting on the often-unplanned nature of supermarket shopping. He contrasts the traditional small grocery store with modern supermarkets, which he believes are designed by marketing experts to encourage impulse purchases. Ben-Amr recounts a recent shopping trip to a King Store branch in Qalansa, where he intended to buy only two kilograms of tilapia.
Upon approaching the fish counter, the author felt a surge of testosterone when the fishmonger addressed him as 'Gever' (man), a term he associates with a certain type of masculinity he feels lacking in his own 'clerical' profession. This prompted him to impulsively order seven kilograms of fish, far exceeding his original plan.
His reflections then turn to the agonizing process of choosing a checkout line, observing the varied contents of other shoppers' carts and the perceived slowness of certain cashiers, particularly those in the 'express lane.' He humorously describes the lengthy and convoluted payment process of the woman ahead of him, who opted for a three-part payment using checks in 2026, involving extensive form-filling and verification.
Exasperated by the delay, the author jokingly asks if he can pay in five installments and offers to fetch ancient Babylonian clay tablets, a hammer, and stakes to record his payment, highlighting his frustration with the inefficient checkout system. The essay concludes with a note that the content represents the author's views and not those of the publication, Zman Israel.