Residents prefer supermarkets over central market despite cheap prices
Traders in Central Market have complained that they are losing customers to supermarkets and suffering a decline in business.
Mohammed Shahajahan, a trader in the Central Market in Abu Hamour, said his business had gone down in the past five years due to the opening of supermarkets in residential areas.
"Buyers are reluctant to come to the Central Markets which are often far from homes while supermarkets are almost everywhere offering same products," he said.
He said even though the prices in traditional markets are lower than those in supermarkets, the difference is always minimal which prompts customers to visit supermarkets.
Shahajahan said he sold a 7kg box of tomatoes at QR10 while 1kg of the produce was sold at QR3 in a supermarket. Similarly, he sold a three-piece box of cabbages at QR6 while one cabbage was sold at QR3 in a supermarket.
Even fish prices at supermarkets are higher than those in traditional markets.
For example, 1kg sheri sold at QR10 in Central Market cost QR14.50 in a supermarket; hamour at QR35 compared to QR37.50 in a supermarket, 1kg of big prawns at QR60 in traditional markets cost QR62.50 in supermarkets and small prawns at QR40 cost QR42.50 in supermarkets.
Abdullatif, the owner of shop No. 43 in the fish market, said prices in the fish market were more wholesale than retail and supermarkets had their suppliers in the market.
However, the business is low compared to a few years back when there were fewer supermarkets, he said.
Mohammed Khalifa, a Qatari shopping in the Central Market's vegetable and fruits market, said some key characteristics of traditional markets attract him and his family though there is a supermarket in his neighbourhood.
"There's fun in traditional markets with vendors shouting at each other, shoppers haggling and gossiping, kids running around. It is an experience very different from that in a supermarket," he said.
Another thing that attracts Khalifa to traditional markets is the possibility of a good bargain as the prices in supermarkets are fixed.
Other residents said they prefer supermarkets because Central Markets are slow in adapting to new technologies.
"In a supermarket, we can pay cash or use the credit card, but in traditional markets, we pay cash," said Jassim Mohammed shopping in a supermarket. [The Peninsula]
Fish are Never cheaper in Central Market , In supermarket I found some varieties are sold more than half that the amount in Central Market.
Matter of time when this market will be shut down by health inspectors. It's no surprise what I'm reading here about rotten vegetables and fruit. Parasites on vegetables might be a factor and that could lead to tape worms and all matter of nasty health issues.
I think, new generation or new visitors are not experienced in this market. Also, the market is not in the public attractive place. Many people, who are working more than two years in Qatar, still no knowledge about the place.
About Qatari, they don't want to bargain more. they need fresh and attractive displayed shopping.
Options to chose fresh and cleaned items is more attraction in the supermarket.
all damaged items are kept inside. good items on the top. I use to visit every week earlier . After being cheated several times. i stopped shop there.
I used to buy from central market sometimes, but many of the times I noticed the bottom of the boxes are packed with rotten or damaged stuffs. Maybe due to competition or to make make easy money by some vendors are few reasons keeping customers like us away from central markets.
every thing from super market is coming outta central market.? it is or or isn't...?
Price of central market, Convenience of supermarket.... business idea!!!! :-)
"There's fun in traditional markets with vendors shouting at each other, shoppers haggling and gossiping, kids running around. It is an experience very different from that in a supermarket".
No thanks, a relaxing shopping experience is what want after hard day at work etc.
There are many lies and there are some goods damaged inside
Fish from central market , What about cutting of fish , Tired old faces cutting fish like they are cutting the branches of trees , making mess of it and charging some amount per kg
Actual reason behind packing of items are high, they should be make different packing, like 10 KG or 3 kg, example: 6 Family member can't finished Tomato for 10 Kg, 5 to 6 KG will be going for waste, that's why they will prefer to buying items from malls even price little bit high to use product within a week.
malls are even offering buy 3 and get one free...:)
It's a no brainer.....consumers will always go to where they feel comfortable and relax when doing market needs. for a few riyals difference, malls will always be the first choice to go. aside from things you really need to buy, malls is offering everything.