Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

Just thought I'd pass along a hint to anyone who is new here, or hasn't figured this out yet (because I forgot and got burned today)...

When buying something off of the shelf, ALWAYS grab one from the middle or back of the row, and NOT one of the first items up front.

Food items in front tend to be the out-of-date, or soon-to-expire ones that they're trying to dump off quick before they lose money. Other things in the front tend to be opened items, or slightly damaged items that they've tried to cover-up the damage on.

That has been my experience much of the time here... never buy an item that's at the front of the shelf.

[The Grumpy Senator]

It is called "rotating your stock" and I did it at every retail store, restaurant and bar I worked at back home.

[skconqueror]

umm it is called rotating stock. Korea isnt the only place they move the products that will expire sooner to the front


edit~

wait, does this make me an apologist AHHHHHHHH

[bassexpander]

That is a no-brainer, but I never saw so many out-of-date items still for sale back home.

I worked in a grocery store too... here, however, they do some shady things. Sometimes pieces of items are missing, and they still rotate it to the front to sell it.

[KAMAKAZI]

This has been one of my habits since I was a kid

[Kimchi Cowboy]

And what brings on this particular rant? Inquiring minds want to know.

[skdragon]

did it back home ... and have always done it here

[CentralCali]

A number of stores back in the US have a special section for expired foods that have been examined by the appropriate public health agency and certified as still fit for sale and consumption. As that costs the store money to do on a large scale, it's more practical and more responsible to rotate the stock as the posters above mentioned. Consider for a moment the way you would consume the foodstuffs you have in your home. Do you eat only the most recently purchased items and let the others rot?

[lucas_p]

[Jellypah]

I always reach toward the back. The veggies are better and the expiry dates are longer. There are two little grocery stores near my school, and one of the cash register positions has a clear view of me and my go-go-gadget arms. I think it's funny how they grimace at me!

[CentralCali]

[Chris_Dixon]

i always reach to the back, always have

[Kimchieluver]

When I was a food and retail manager. The stuff that was about to expire in two days went to the food bank. Except the cream, that went to the staff room.

[djsmnc]

It happens all the time back home. Actually, I like that fact that in Korea the boxes aren't open with stuff removed from them. Or empty McDonald's cups on the shelves. Big box stores back home are filthy garbage disposals compared to their Korean counterparts. But by-golly they stock root beer, Splenda, and gummy bears. Right? RIGHT??

[OnTheOtherSide]

Same thing happens in America. Rotten food, mold, opened packages, bugs in the food, i've seen it all in the US too. Especially in smaller stores.