Will we ever see grocery stores like ALDI or LIDL here?

Filippinos are famous for their budget price negotiation skills, why are they doing this?

Please no answers from US Americans, you know nothing about managing a budget, economics or food.
-@Lothar Scholz

Pilly pinos, Americans, Brits - all the same when it comes to slick advertising and mass indoctrination.

Take a look at the nutritional value of McD and the taste, then the clearly shown harm Coca-cola does to us, hide it as much as possible, then assume people are stupid enough to believe adverts.

If hiding the well proven harm sugar and processed food does to us fails, simply deny it and commission a few studies that prove their rubbish is fine.

That will really muddy the water so the companies can continue to make massive profits by killing people.

What makes people buy crap? Easy, they're far too stupid not to.

Given you can't stop this mass idiocy, simply forget it and pop down to the local market where you can buy real food at a fraction of the price.

The same applies to new cars, massive TVs, and all the other trappings advertisers tell us we're epic failures if we don't buy.

""Please no answers from US Americans, you know nothing about managing a budget, economics or food.""

.... Us ignorant "U.S.Americans" sure are thankful for your guidance Lothar.... Please do continue to let us know how it's done.

Until now, I thought I was doing o.k... But now I realize that i cannot be trusted with my own budgeting, and my understanding of basic economics and food are in the range of neanderthal and early homo sapiens...  I promise to not spend another dime of the 2 million U.S. dollars I saved to retire here without first asking for your wise advice sir as I cannot be trusted with any of it....

...I wait for further instructions O wise one...

.

Gee, the Sauer Kraut does not want my input.  I have had bigger disappointments.

promise to not spend another dime of the 2 million U.S. dollars I saved to retire here
-@Wellsfry

Only 2 million US?

FAILURE!!!!

https://youtu.be/lO9K7VMFo2Y

Hans Schultz (Hogan's Heroes) alias as Lothar Scholz wrote. . . . Please no answers from US Americans, you know nothing about managing a budget, economics or food.

Hans Schultz (Hogan's Heroes) alias as Lothar Scholz wrote. . . . Please no answers from US Americans, you know nothing about managing a budget, economics or food.

-@Enzyte Bob

Hans Schultz (Hogan's Heroes) alias as Lothar Scholz wrote. . . . Please no answers from US Americans, you know nothing about managing a budget, economics or food.

-@Enzyte Bob

To quote the sarge  "I know nothing!"

Apparently none of us do according to some members and our thoughts and opinions will always be wrong and then some, best to ignore and share and learn knowledge from real expats in PH.

Cheers, Steve.

I know nothing!
-@mugteck

Ah, you must be an American

However, there is a one more point that might have some validity to some.

We work like twits to earn our couple of million retirement pot, but we would have to work less to do so if we stopped buying the crap advertisers tell us to run out and get.

I just had three years off work because I didn't fancy doing much, and I could do so because I stopped buying a load of junk (Except my lovely technology).

I will do a maximum of five years work then call it a day. I can stuff a load of my somewhat silly big salary in the bank earning just about enough interest to negate inflation, and I can do that most months.

My only issue is where to store all the free umbrellas and other crap the bank gives me every time I walk in.

Every month, I stuff away enough to last six months - That means I have no money worries, no job security concerns, and no stress because of the previous two points.

Because my last town was cheap to live in, I have replaced every penny I spent over three years by working for four months, and not even thought about how much anything costs because I don't need to care.

I eat in restaurants too many times, go to coffee shops way too many times, and hang out in technology malls way, way too many times, but I still can't spend enough to get even slightly concerned about looking at prices when I order .. and I have some sweet computers.

However, my box of a minivan is over 9 years old, I don't have a proper bed or settee, and my underwear is 20 years old, I don't feel the need to replace any of the above.

@Wellsfry

Beg your pardon. Do you have some divine insight regarding this.

I've supported myself since the age of 16. Definitely need to know how to budget.

You speak out of ignorance.

Fred said:

I just had three years off work . . .

I stopped buying a. . .

I will do a maximum of . . .

I can stuff a load . . .

I can do that most months. . .

I walk in. . .

I have no money. . .

I have replaced every. . .

I spent over three. . .

I don't need to care. . .

I eat in restaurants too. . .

I still can't spend enough. . .

I order . . .

I have some . . .

I don't have a proper. . .

I don't feel the. . .

You certainly have a high opinion of yourself.

Fred said:
You certainly have a high opinion of yourself.
-@Enzyte Bob

You do, but I'm kind and forgiving so I'll let you off

Fred said:
I can stuff a load . . .

Never had any complains from the ladies .. or the guys, duckie.

Here in the UK the two grocery stores alluded to have indeed taken the country by ‘market share’ storm. No mean feat as the UK has the most competitive grocery market in the whole of Europe.

That said we have a more deregulated market than the rest of the EU with minimal red tape.

The 2 stores reflect a typical ‘teutonic’ efficiency in their business plan and for people on a low income are a saviour especially with the world economy having tanked. Low income consumers spend a bigger proportion of their income on food.

To suggest that these German operators would be allowed into a protectionist market like the Philippines is at best naive and at worst plain ignorant.

Here in Bath we have a Lidl and to my mind they take the ‘experience’ out of food shopping - just like the Germans have taken the ‘experience’ out of food. If only their cuisine could be as discriminating as their beers..

Freds excellent point about sugar and processed foods applies worldwide and yet certain cultures without doubt are more ‘vulnerable’ to them; Filipinos especially and yet if you take Mexico, a veritable Gourmets delight, they also have a real problem with sugar intake and like Filipinos a higher than average incidence of Diabetes. Well both countries have Spanish ancestry so maybe we can blame the Spanish, another foodie haven.

As for my shopping habits - I’m strictly a Waitrose guy

I know nothing!
-@mugteck
Ah, you must be an American

However, there is a one more point that might have some validity to some.

We work like twits to earn our couple of million retirement pot, but we would have to work less to do so if we stopped buying the crap advertisers tell us to run out and get.
I just had three years off work because I didn't fancy doing much, and I could do so because I stopped buying a load of junk (Except my lovely technology).
I will do a maximum of five years work then call it a day. I can stuff a load of my somewhat silly big salary in the bank earning just about enough interest to negate inflation, and I can do that most months.
My only issue is where to store all the free umbrellas and other crap the bank gives me every time I walk in.
Every month, I stuff away enough to last six months - That means I have no money worries, no job security concerns, and no stress because of the previous two points.
Because my last town was cheap to live in, I have replaced every penny I spent over three years by working for four months, and not even thought about how much anything costs because I don't need to care.
I eat in restaurants too many times, go to coffee shops way too many times, and hang out in technology malls way, way too many times, but I still can't spend enough to get even slightly concerned about looking at prices when I order .. and I have some sweet computers.

However, my box of a minivan is over 9 years old, I don't have a proper bed or settee, and my underwear is 20 years old, I don't feel the need to replace any of the above.
-@Fred

[content moderated]

Fred said. . . .  I don't have a proper bed or settee, and my underwear is 20 years old, I don't feel the need to replace any of the above.

*********************************************************************

Has your underwear been washed in 20 years?   Your mate picked a real winner.

Has your underwear been washed in 20 years? 
-@Enzyte Bob

It comes to heal on command. Woof Woof

Has your underwear been washed in 20 years?

-@Enzyte Bob

It comes to heal on command. Woof Woof

-@Fred

Probably answers to the name Crusty

This grocery discounters are defined by the following rules
business model is to sell by volume
have at most 3 variants for any item
therefore almost no brand products, only own trade brands
no shopping experience, go in, get your shit, get out with a happy filled wallet

All groceries i see here are the extreme opposite and it's insane for me that poor people pay twice the amount just to finance a brand name with very questinonable quality and business ethics (Nestle, Unilever, Coca-Cola company ...).

Filippinos are famous for their budget price negotiation skills, why are they doing this?

Please no answers from US Americans, you know nothing about managing a budget, economics or food.
-@Lothar Scholz

First of all, the Philippines is not Germany. Most Filipinos do not buy their basic necessities and groceries from climate-controlled stores, such as supermarkets, due to a limited budget or lack thereof.

Second, there are already discounter places here, including shops / stalls where shoppers can haggle. They're called "palengke" or "bagsakan." They can also be in the form of rows of retail shops called "tiangge." Or an area like Divisoria, Binondo, Banawe or Greenhills. Items may not be of the best quality, but it's what most people can afford. (I personally do not buy produce and fish from supermarkets because they go bad quicker than if you buy them from a palengke.)

Third, most Filipinos do not buy in bulk due to their limited budget, unless they have a sari-sari store or a small retail business. Actually, what they buy is quite the opposite of volume. They buy in small quantities. Have you noticed that there are little sachets of products like shampoo, laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc. Or mini versions of canned food or bottled drinks like iced tea. I'm sure in most pantries, you don't see stacks of boxed cups of instant noodles, or industrial size laundry detergent, or a box of 18 Vienna sausages. Are you already living here? If you are, have you noticed that the number of foreigners shopping at S&R is disproportionately a lot more than at a palengke or even in a supermarket?

Lastly, and this is about the last sentence in your post, let me quote a verse. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." There's also a Filipino saying: "Bago mo linisin ang dungis ng iyong kapwa, hugasan ang iyong dungis sa mukha," which translates to "Before you wipe off the dirt from your neighbor's face, wash the shit off your face first."

I promise to not spend another dime of the 2 million U.S. dollars I saved to retire here

And thats exactly why i'm not interested in your opinion. If you can save 2 million dollar you don't know anything about living on tight budget.

You are lucky coming from a country where everything is so overpriced that you get used to it and most are so ignorant that they don't realize that, hello.

Third, most Filipinos do not buy in bulk due to their limited budget, unless they have a sari-sari store or a small retail business. Actually, what they buy is quite the opposite of volume. They buy in small quantities. Have you noticed that there are little sachets of products like shampoo, laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc. Or mini versions of canned food or bottled drinks like iced tea. I'm sure in most pantries, you don't see stacks of boxed cups of instant noodles, or industrial size laundry detergent, or a box of 18 Vienna sausages. Are you already living here? If you are, have you noticed that the number of foreigners shopping at S&R is disproportionately a lot more than at a palengke or even in a supermarket?

Yes i know this "bargain" shops of course, but the problem is that they are still selling the international stuff, except you go to real farmer markets which we do here of course.

My girl friend runs her Sari Sari store and gets their stuff from this places before she adds another margin to make it even more expensive for poor people.

But it's still Nestle, Unilever and and Coco-Cola Company what is repackaged.

Philippines are not able to produce their own hygene articles? A country so addicted to rub their skin to pieces?

So how protective can it be if you import more and more each year, now even cement is imported because it's cheaper than home made. On the other hand you do have each big fast food brand here and lots of 7/11 even in our tiny town.

Good to know your girl is participating in the overpriced ripoff.  Your must be proud.

Hello all,

Some off-topic posts have been removed from this thread.

I kindly request all of you to please remain respectful to other members and to avoid any personal remarks/comments.

Thanks,

Yoginee

Expat.com team