A twenty minute ferry ride from a sprawling urban centre does not confer "remote" status, nor does…read moreit excuse the horrific price gouging at the Snug Cove General Store.
We recently noted that we could make a multi-hour trip to a bona fide remote location...and still spend far less at a local grocers for the same items.
Although we are residents of Bowen, we have chosen to not make our purchases from the Snug anymore. In the past, we were happy to support this local business. However, we noted that despite spending a minimum of $80 on each visit, and despite patronizing their business for multiple years, there was never any acknowledgement, never a kind greeting, and never a "thank you".
On our final visit, we placed our full basket of goods on the cashier's counter, and were distracted for a second by an event outside the grocers. We always empty our own cart, but as mentioned, we were distracted. The cashier shouted, "Empty your basket!" There was no one else waiting in line, so we found this announcement to be rather unnecessary, alarming, and not to mention, rude.
As with every other visit, there was not even a hint of recognition from the cashier (Bowen is a small community, and you quickly come to know the locals by name before long), no smile, no friendliness, just another curt announcement that our purchases tallied to $112.
As we departed, no thank you was given.
Like I said, we were happy to support this local business, but given their prices, and open contempt for our patronage, why should we bother?
The Ruddy Potato is just steps away, their goods are less expensive, and we don't feel defiled after every visit.
We now have sufficient incentive to avoid the Snug Cove General Store altogether, and do all of our shopping either at the Ruddy, or on the mainland, and I suggest that you do too.
