i don’t get angry because they rearranged the store, i get angry because they ONLY rearranged the store so some worthless, nepo-baby dipshit can justify their existence at the company because they came to the conclusion–after 25 focus groups-- that it’d increase shareholder value by $0.0003 to move the pasta to aisle 3
I figured they just do it regularly so customers have to look at more extra shit they might impulse buy, rather than based on some study of product location adjacency.
Having worked stock in a grocery store, this is part of it. After asking alot of different people at different levels, the consensus is that shelf space is also paid for by many brands, and what space goes to who is decided way above the store level. So once in a while the stockers get paperwork that moves a ton of stuff around, and no one who works in that location has the authority to say no. Sure, sometimes a manager will do that anyway, but they always have a reason, and it’s usually something about the reality of the store configuration, like not putting too many cold items near warm areas, to keep humidity down and reduce spoil.
I think you vastly overestimate the size of grocery store’s budgets
typical shareholder meeting in america:
ceo: i’ve come to a stunning conclusion, and i don’t want to ruffle too many feathers or cause a heart attack–we know what happened to MCfunky last week.
uneasy laughter
ceo: but i have a crazy idea that i’m sure is going to shock everyone in the room, and i’m hesitant to even say this out loud, but, how about we cut one employee per store and raise the prices on ALL items by a nickel!
the room of shareholders went completely silent, until the oldest of the bunch cut a huge fart. what happened next was a raucous laughter that wasn’t heard since the first test screening of ‘a princess bride’ and a round of applause that was usually reserved for a barack obama speech @ $200k a seat (champagne optional).
the forbes editor who was deployed to the meeting immediately came in his pants and a rothschild graciously committed to buying him a new pair, despite the known frugality of the ultra-wealthy (they wouldn’t be rich if they didn’t know how to work a penny). she told him, ‘meet me on rodeo drive next week and i got you covered’ but he missed the appointment because he was supposed to cover alysa liu’s birthday extravaganza.
she was fat anyway, at least that what he told himself. she was kinda fat by european or asian standards but we were in america and the rules of the wild west still apply. who cares how much money she has. alysa dyed her hair green this week. that’s all that really matters,.
isn’t struggling to deal with change one of the classic autism traits?
It’s also normal to become less accepting of change as you age. I think this has to do with decreasing neural plasticity and the “crystalized” intelligence (accumulation of information) that comes with age even as “fluid” intelligence (processing speed, etc) declines.
Synaptic strengthening happens as you age - you will lose neuronal density, but the neuronal connections you still have are stronger and more efficient. The myelin sheaths around these neurons thicken well into middle age. The distracting neuronal channels, things that didn’t serve you over your years of experience, have died off leaving only the most effective connections.
So, you’re old, you know how stuff is supposed to be. You work well within that framework. When things change, it’s harder for you to keep up with it. It puts your brain under proportionally more load.
So you get mad when the bread aisle moves.
The effect (aversion to change) is similar to autism, but the cause is basically the exact opposite (autistic folk have higher neuronal density, older folks have less than they used to).
In effect, autistic people don’t like when the bread aisle moves because they have to parse that information through a much more complicated and dense web of neuronal connections, which causes overstimulation and increased cognitive load. Old people have to use old dusty disused neurons, which also causes cognitive strain, and not their nice efficient, highly myelinated neurons.
I just don’t understand why the international foods are a separate aisle. Can those sauces not sit next to the other sauces? Can all types of noodles not co-exist in the same aisle? Why can’t masa flour live next to wheat flour?
The more I think about this, the more it annoys me.
The new Aldi layout at mine is terrible. The vegetables are right at the entrance, which clogs things up because everyone browses vegetables. Plus basically all the regular groceries are in one aisle now, so its all crowded.
The worst one is the eggs, which could be fucking anywhere (except in countries where they’re in the fridge because they’re bleached or some insane shit).
You know the worst part of it? The reason why is to encourage the “hunter, gatherer” mode in your lizard brain. It’s basically a trick to get you to do impulse purchases.
Never gotten mad or irritated about this. The only times where it happens, at least here in Sweden, is when they renovate/expand the store (which very much isn’t often). It only happens when it’s a good thing. And I like walking around and discovering the new layout and see what they did with the space and modernised tech.
In the states it can happen several times a year for many stores
Bruh, i just experienced this yesterday. I had my kid with me too, so I was on edge and distracted and couldnt find the goddamn cauliflower
This is why I can’t fuck with Trader Joe’s.
I swear Trader Joes does this specifically to make you walk the whole store. It’s small enough that you’re probably walking the whole thing anyway, but I can never just run in and grab what I might need.
100%. I don’t know how people shop there. It’s like a place to wander around and find random stuff.
I get mad because I know that they are using the physical space to manipulate shoppers and break down their decision fatigue.
I also know that these corporations specifically target and look to take the most advantage of women. Specifically low income or dependant ones.
Corporate psychology is a naaaasty place. And they specifically take the most advantage of single women and mothers.
Romesh Ranganathan did a comedy skit on this saying this and shitty wifi is what would tip him over to join ISIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv7QNtzUqbw
at about 5:20
It’s because they keep doing it wrong!
I have ADHD and don’t notice nor remember where the things used to be :^)
The most accurate description of my pain. Thanks, family-grocery store that I loved.
Not mad. Quietly dissapointed, heavy sigh, start searching.
