Unforgettable People:

 Pricy & Priceless

FROM THE LATEST EDITION OF OUR "SUNNY SIDE UP"

Quite often when I go to any of the local supermarkets I meet the same people. Two persons I meet 99 percent of the time are Mr. Pricy and Mrs. Priceless. Well, that’s not actually their names but because they invariably go to the shelf, pick up an item, look at it carefully, and then comment: it is “priceless”  the lady says —meaning there is no price on it, while the gentleman always complains that the price is too high. I agree with both of them and we have become good friends. They even ask my opinion, which they describe as “invaluable” - not to be confused with worthless or invalid (Heaven have mercy!).

By the way, have you noticed how many items do not have a price label and you need to go to the cashier or to a bar code reader hanging from the wall to learn about the price of a given item? Most of the time the price is too high, but they do not put a price tag as it would turn off the potential buyer. Instead they most likely hope that you will get your total from the cashier and pay like an imbecile.

There are four categories of items on the shelves of a supermarket:

1st category includes items with a  bar code—readable, no price label

2nd category includes items with a bar code– readable, and a price label

3rd category includes items with a  bar code that is not readable, no price label

4th category includes items with no bar code and  no price label.

The worst is category 4 because it results in long delays when you reach the cashier; in some instances you have to forget about buying the item because it would take a day or two to find out what its price is.  The best category is the second one, of course, but only half of what you have in your shopping cart  has a readable bar code and a price label.

I  recently had a long conversation with Mrs. Priceless and we have decided to send a letter to the government protesting that  items with no price label should be considered free—if the seller puts no price on them, then it’s free—quite simple. And speaking of government — it’s 25 years politicians have been talking about consumer protection legislation—shame on them, they never did anything about it!!

Mr. Pricy is also right. The supermarkets hike the prices as they like, there is no relation to a price index or cost of living—they just push it up. It is amazing how they operate. They offer you discounts, raffles, special coupons, but the prices have already been hiked—you get no bargain, period. And that pitiful rotten romaine and  lettuce —  shame on them. They keep the old rotten romaine and greens on the shelves until the last is sold, meanwhile they got new supplies of the same stuff but they do not put it on the shelves until the last of the previous supply is sold. So, the new batch in the meantime has also started to rot. And we imbeciles buy that half rotten stuff  at the price of gold.

I agree completely with Mr. Pricy and Mrs. Priceless and I hope the editor will give them a long interview because they have a lot to say. They also want to stage a public protest.  For this and for other reasons I  have come to the conclusion that Mr. Pricy and Mrs. Priceless are truly  unforgettable.                  

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