Korean Job Discussion Forums

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

One of my co-workers jokingly argued that E-Mart is watching what you buy so they know what to stop carrying. I think he may be on to something; so many things I buy there are disappearing!

- Dorset cereals. I was buying 5 boxes every week to stock up because I was afraid it was on the chopping block. I was right; it's gone.
- sugar free yogurt in glass bottles. I like the yogurt, it's sugar free, and I can use the glass bottles for storing hot liquids without worrying about the xenoestrogens (look it up; scary stuff!)
- E-Mart brand milk in the big glass bottles (see above).
- Ghana brand chocolate milk (for peri- and post-workout)
- skim milk powder (for protein shakes; why use real milk when it's more expensive and tastes the same in shakes?)

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

I hear they still sell tinfoil.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

Sorry, I am unable to concentrate on your posts. Razz

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

I've noticed this about not only Emart but other places as well. There is a trend. At Baskin Robbins a few years ago they had a flavor chocolate cheesecake. It was my favorite. I would get it everytime I went there. Then all of a sudden whoosh! Gone - nationwide. To my knowledge every other flavor is still there.
The local GS 25 had Dr Pepper by the can for sale. I went in and bought 5 or six cans. Two weeks later - nada. Costco still sells it in bulk so I get it there. Many other things as well that I can;t name off the top of my head have suffered similar fates.
Back in Pohang a few years ago they opened a taco stand downtown. Koreans were mobbing the place for weeks, also word got around and lots of us westerners went to find it - gone without a trace.
They also opened a Paris Baguette near my house. For the first week they were selling Cholcolate glazed bavarian creme filled donuts by the truckload. 1 week later all you could find on the shelves were scones stuffed with hot dogs that no one was buying.

joe412 · Joined: 01 Sep 2009

We are all experiencing Koreanomics.
After all, this is Korea. You only need 1 kind of everything.

byrddogs · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Shanghai

Costco seems to have a similar policy, lol.

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

You forget that much of this stuff is imported - And they only get a certain amount per batch. If it doesn't sell well, they discontinue the product. I am not sure about America but this is quite a common occurence in Europe.

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

byrddogs · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Shanghai

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

I wanna know why Costco carries Western sized patio sets, outdoor swings, sheds, etc. etc. etc.... Where in the hell would a Korean put something like that? Unless you're living way the hell out in the country, in which case you're probably not doing a lot of shopping at Costco (as a Korean at least) regardless, lol....

fermentation · Joined: 22 Jun 2009

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

eIn07912 · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Location: seoul

Ha! I noticed this trend about 2 years ago.

There was a corner mart I went to everyday and would get these perfect little mints. After a few weeks, gone. Never to return again. Same for the Vitamin Water, it was gone for well over a year. Though, now it is back, and with more flavors.

It seems crazy a retailer would want to stop carrying a product because foreigners are buying it. I mean, money is money right? Who cares who it came from. But then again, this is Korea. I wouldn't be too surprised if that was the case.