Prices, service and quality of food in an American supermarket: the experience of an immigrant
'05.11.2020'
Source: Yandex Zen
Grocery stores in the United States amaze with the abundance of products. But often the quality of service and prices can unpleasantly surprise, writes the author of the blog "America under the microscope" on Yandex Zen.
I want to say right away that in America you can eat both cheap and tasty, and expensive, but harmful.
First, let's talk about the location. In Russia, large supermarkets with a bunch of food for every taste are located almost at every step. There are at least 1-2 per district. In America it is a little different. Sometimes there can be two huge shops in the neighborhood, and sometimes you need to drive 5 kilometers to catch your eye at least some grocery store. Everything, of course, depends on the city, but I have seen this picture often. This does not apply to megacities.
By the way, I strongly advise you not to go to the "thematic" grocery stores.
For example, with Mexican or even Russian food. Firstly, all these products are delivered to the United States for a very long time, especially in the current realities of quarantine, so delays are not uncommon. And secondly, the owners always inflate prices and, it would seem, ordinary food costs two or three times more for only one reason - it was brought from your homeland.
On the subject: Strategic reserve: what foods can be stored for as long as possible
Also in America in recent years, food preparation services are increasingly appearing right in the store. That is, you buy groceries, give them away at the checkout, walk for a certain time, and then come back and get a ready-made dish that you can eat right in the store (the corner is equipped like a cafe) or take it all with you.
This is a plus for the States, but there is a key minus - the cooking service costs from $ 20 to $ 100.
Another fact that excited me upon arrival was that in American grocery stores, a separate person works at the checkout, who packs the products and sometimes even helps to carry them to the car. I think this is superfluous for myself, but for pensioners it is very convenient. It's a pity that this is not everywhere.
Blog authorImmigrant alphabet»On Yandex.Zen made a test purchase of products in an American supermarket and made a list with prices:
- Pork (3 slices) - 0,82 pounds (370 grams) $ 5,73 (401 Russian rubles)
- Beef 1,33 lbs (600 grams) $ 3,98 (279 rubles).
- Pork marinated 1,735 lbs (623 grams) $ 7,99 (560 rubles)
- Sausages $ 2 per pack (10 each)
- Pepperoni sausage - 170 grams for $ 2,99 (209 rubles)
- Cheese - $ 2 for 226 grams
- Egg (12 pieces) category A $ 1,29 (90 rubles)
- Bread - 567 grams for $ 2,69 (188 rubles)
- Dough for bread - $ 3 (210 rubles) for 1 loaf
- 4 oranges for $ 5 (350 rubles)
- Bananas - 2,24 pounds (1 kg) for $ 1,65 (115 rubles)
- Apples - 1 pound (453 grams) for $ 1,55 (108 rubles)
- Plums - 0,46 pounds (208 grams) for $ 0,78 (55 rubles)
- Watermelon - 11,88 pounds (5,4 kg) for $ 8.20 (574 rubles)
- Tomatoes (4 pieces) 1,11 pounds (503 grams) for $ 1,99 (140 rubles)
- Pepper (in Russia it is called Bulgarian, and in the USA "bell pepper") - 0,53 pounds (240 grams) for $ 0,52 (36 rubles)
- Parsley - 1 bunch for $ 1,50 (105 rubles)
- Potatoes - 2,26 kg for $ 4,99 (349 rubles)
- Eggplant - 1,24 pounds (560 grams) for $ 1,23 (86 rubles)
- Caesar salad - $ 4,99 per package (350 rubles). This package immediately includes Caesar sauce, croutons and parmesan, and, of course, the salad leaves themselves
- Cinnamon pads - 547 grams $ 3,99 (279 rubles)
- Pancake mix - 907 grams for $ 2,79 (195 rubles)
- Strudel - $ 4,59 (321 rubles) per 1 pound (453 grams)
- Chocolates for $ 1,99 (139 rubles) for each
- Magnum ice cream (in Russia it is called "Magnat") - 3 pieces for $ 3,99 (279 rubles) or 93 rubles for 1 popsicle
- Ice cream sandwich - $ 3,99 (279 rubles) for 12 pieces or at 23,30 for one ice cream
- Regular whole milk - 1 gallon (3,78 liters) for $ 3,99 or 73 rubles per liter.
- Lactose-free milk - half a gallon (1,89 liters) for $ 4,99 (349 rubles) or about 185 rubles for 1 liter
- Cream - $ 2,59 (181 rubles) for 473 ml
- Soy sauce - $ 3,29 (230 rubles) for 591 ml
- "Cola" - 3 bottles of 2 liters each for $ 5 (350 rubles) or 117 rubles per bottle
The entire purchase cost the author $ 111,11 (8 rubles). Please note - the tax is $ 545 (0,8 rubles). This is a tax on the purchase of "Cola", chocolate and bread dough - in the check opposite them is the letter T (Tax). Everything else is tax-free. No VAT or anything else.
Original column published on the blog. "America under the microscope" in Yandex.Zen
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