Shopping has made my list of "things I don't like to do" here in Muscat. Shopping here, whether it be for groceries, clothes, or whatever, is just a headache for the most part. I will say that at first, when you are new, it is a fun cultural experience because you are still in the "tourist" mind set and everything is new and exciting, even shopping. After a few weeks, it's gone, WAY gone.
Nothing is really close for shopping, and most likely in getting to where you are going, you will hit some type of construction* and/or unexpected change in roads due to said construction, so you may be stuck in serious traffic coming home, making each second that ticks by painful knowing your dairy and frozen goods are raising in temperature as you creep through a round about or bottle neck where the road has suddenly converted from 4 lanes to two. Or, the store is packed with patrons and half of the check out crew has not showed up to work, so you wait in line to check out for 20 minutes. I don't think I've ever made it out of Lulu's (grocery store) in less than and hour and a half. That is also because it's just a big store. *Road construction is going on like crazy here because they are a growing city and trying to improve their roadways for future tourism and growth.
Things are just expensive here too. I used to think it wasn't so bad, but in general, it just is. Produce is the one thing that usually is pretty cheap since most of it is either imported a short distance or is grown locally depending on the season. But, the rest of the food can make your stomach knot up when you do quick conversions in your head. Everyone here advises you to just stop converting, but it's hard not to. 1 Rial sounds cheap, but one rial is $2.60 US, so that can of black beans (black beans are harder to find for some reason) that are .75 rials are $1.95. That box of Duncan Hines cake mix that is 1.7 Rials is almost $4.50. Granted those things are usually from the US or Europe, but you get the picture. Even clothes can be spendy. I went looking for a pack of panties for Aberly and even a 3-pack of toddler undies were 3 rials, yes, that is almost $8. The worst mark up I've seen was for Sociables crackers at 3.8 rials a box. $9.88??? Most Americans wouldn't even pay $3.80 for them! That store was bound to lose all their money on that one. If you are a Dave Ramsey disciple, you will die here. And if you are a coupon-er, they don't exist (although they do have the Entertainment book here). And sales? They have them, but rarely on food. There are no club card prices. The best you find are multi-packs of items that are "cheaper" as a group. You know, like normally $1.25 a piece, but buy this 5 pack for $5!
We ease our minds about the prices of other goods when we remind ourselves that gas is just under $1 a gallon.
Half the time when you shop at smaller stores, like the corner market, the more casual supermarket, things are just not priced. I have the knack of always wanting to buy the things that are not marked. You have to hope it's not outrageous and take it to the check-out. Once there, you have to watch and act quickly because voiding an item, especially once another item has been scanned, makes the world stop. Either they don't know how to do it (apparently no one changes their minds here) or they have to get a manager override, even if you decide against something cheap. And sometimes, the item may be priced on the rack, but half of them are missing their barcode sticker, or like me, you have the knack of grabbing the one out of the ten that is missing it, so you wait for 10 minutes while a courtesy clerk, who has no understanding of the word courtesy, goes to find another item with the sticker.
Malls are busy and expensive.
The souk may have fun, local, and cheaper goods, but you will be hounded by every shop owner you walk by, trying to convince you to look at, touch, feel, smell, see their items and buy from them. Since I look like a tourist, I am offered pashminas every two feet because that must be what I want to buy. I am about ready to make a sign I can stick to myself that says "resident" for the next time I go. Or I am going to buy an abaya (the black coverups women wear here).
I think that about covers it. There are a few other small reasons I could think of if I wasn't about to fall asleep after this long day. I think you probably get the picture though.
Next time you go to your local Safeway, Target, or Macy's, be thankful.
Nothing is really close for shopping, and most likely in getting to where you are going, you will hit some type of construction* and/or unexpected change in roads due to said construction, so you may be stuck in serious traffic coming home, making each second that ticks by painful knowing your dairy and frozen goods are raising in temperature as you creep through a round about or bottle neck where the road has suddenly converted from 4 lanes to two. Or, the store is packed with patrons and half of the check out crew has not showed up to work, so you wait in line to check out for 20 minutes. I don't think I've ever made it out of Lulu's (grocery store) in less than and hour and a half. That is also because it's just a big store. *Road construction is going on like crazy here because they are a growing city and trying to improve their roadways for future tourism and growth.
Things are just expensive here too. I used to think it wasn't so bad, but in general, it just is. Produce is the one thing that usually is pretty cheap since most of it is either imported a short distance or is grown locally depending on the season. But, the rest of the food can make your stomach knot up when you do quick conversions in your head. Everyone here advises you to just stop converting, but it's hard not to. 1 Rial sounds cheap, but one rial is $2.60 US, so that can of black beans (black beans are harder to find for some reason) that are .75 rials are $1.95. That box of Duncan Hines cake mix that is 1.7 Rials is almost $4.50. Granted those things are usually from the US or Europe, but you get the picture. Even clothes can be spendy. I went looking for a pack of panties for Aberly and even a 3-pack of toddler undies were 3 rials, yes, that is almost $8. The worst mark up I've seen was for Sociables crackers at 3.8 rials a box. $9.88??? Most Americans wouldn't even pay $3.80 for them! That store was bound to lose all their money on that one. If you are a Dave Ramsey disciple, you will die here. And if you are a coupon-er, they don't exist (although they do have the Entertainment book here). And sales? They have them, but rarely on food. There are no club card prices. The best you find are multi-packs of items that are "cheaper" as a group. You know, like normally $1.25 a piece, but buy this 5 pack for $5!
We ease our minds about the prices of other goods when we remind ourselves that gas is just under $1 a gallon.
Half the time when you shop at smaller stores, like the corner market, the more casual supermarket, things are just not priced. I have the knack of always wanting to buy the things that are not marked. You have to hope it's not outrageous and take it to the check-out. Once there, you have to watch and act quickly because voiding an item, especially once another item has been scanned, makes the world stop. Either they don't know how to do it (apparently no one changes their minds here) or they have to get a manager override, even if you decide against something cheap. And sometimes, the item may be priced on the rack, but half of them are missing their barcode sticker, or like me, you have the knack of grabbing the one out of the ten that is missing it, so you wait for 10 minutes while a courtesy clerk, who has no understanding of the word courtesy, goes to find another item with the sticker.
Malls are busy and expensive.
The souk may have fun, local, and cheaper goods, but you will be hounded by every shop owner you walk by, trying to convince you to look at, touch, feel, smell, see their items and buy from them. Since I look like a tourist, I am offered pashminas every two feet because that must be what I want to buy. I am about ready to make a sign I can stick to myself that says "resident" for the next time I go. Or I am going to buy an abaya (the black coverups women wear here).
I think that about covers it. There are a few other small reasons I could think of if I wasn't about to fall asleep after this long day. I think you probably get the picture though.
Next time you go to your local Safeway, Target, or Macy's, be thankful.
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