3 ms·

The mention of the presence of a Spar supermarket in Europe being a marker for overtouristed areas seems oddly area specific. In most European countries which h

The mention of the presence of a Spar supermarket in Europe being a marker for overtouristed areas seems oddly area specific. In most European countries which have them these are bog-standard supermarkets.

lopis 3y ago
Maybe I'm wrong but that's probably only true in DACH and maybe a couple other1 surrounding places. Outside that sphere, the rule does seem to apply that Spar is a mass tourist smell.
- LargoLasskhyfv 3y ago
  In .D(e) SPAR is dead. What can be seen labeled as SPAR, or Spar-Express, 'to go', or whatever, is operated by Edeka and is indeed catering to so called 'captive audiences' in airports, railway-/subway-/metro stations, little kiosks on platforms, gas-/fuel stations, and some larger locations in some downtowns, whose independent owners couldn't be bothered to 'reflag/relabel'. With the exception of the latter, they all have one thing in common: huge prices for common crap.
- spacechild1 3y ago
  In Austria, Spar is one of the two major supermarket chains. (The other one is Billa.)
  - Sharlin 3y ago
    DACH = Germany, Austria, Switzerland
entropyie 3y ago
They are absolutely everywhere in Ireland, from countryside to city centre, rich and poor areas.
- pmckenna 3y ago
  Was going to say the same thing. There’s zero correlation between touristy spots and Spar in Ireland, unless East Wall has suddenly become a tourist hot spot without me hearing about it
  - cianmm 3y ago
    Kin has really had the Sherif Street tourism industry breaking new ground
  - HenryBemis 3y ago
    I was in Mallorca this summer. And I have shopped from Spar across Europe in the past. The various "Spar" in Mallorca are mom & pop mini markets with 20% higher prices than the Mercadona or Lidl. Walking outside such a "Spar" one you SEE that this is not you "central-europe-1000 sqm shop" but a rip-off with a Spar label on it. I haven't paid attention on the ATMs though. I believe that with the prevalence of Conotoxia, Revolut, and the likes, and the fact that everywhere* in Mallorca you can pay with your phone/watch, it makes carrying cash unnecessary *and I mean flea-market that sells crap that only tourists would buy, or bread/cheese/snacks/etc.
    - Ekaros 3y ago
      So they just are the certain size category shops. Usually small as the retail spaces are not supermarket sized. Thus they don't get benefits from scale and end up being expensive. The reality is that there is no big retail spaces near tourist attractions. Or those are much valuable when split up. Thus you end up with smaller stores that do not benefit as much from scale. If you do not like the prices, just travel enough to find equivalent of Walmart...
    - jmkd 3y ago
      I live in Mallorca and the amount of retailers and services that only take cash is significant, it includes: - several Palma bus lines (if you don't have the bus card) - the most traditional bakeries, tailors, dry cleaners and so on - 95% of the traders in my local municipal fruit and veg market - 95% of the traders in the largest antiques market - many cleaners, gardeners, painters, physiotherapists, swim instructors, yoga teachers etc In addition, many places will offer one price for cash, and another for paying with card, and we know what that's about. I've had to relearn having cash on my person, otherwise you can't get what you need several times a week.
as-j 3y ago
I thought batter example would the presence of a Hard Rock Cafe. :)

lopis 3y ago

Maybe I'm wrong but that's probably only true in DACH and maybe a couple other1 surrounding places. Outside that sphere, the rule does seem to apply that Spar is a mass tourist smell.

LargoLasskhyfv 3y ago
In .D(e) SPAR is dead. What can be seen labeled as SPAR, or Spar-Express, 'to go', or whatever, is operated by Edeka and is indeed catering to so called 'captive audiences' in airports, railway-/subway-/metro stations, little kiosks on platforms, gas-/fuel stations, and some larger locations in some downtowns, whose independent owners couldn't be bothered to 'reflag/relabel'. With the exception of the latter, they all have one thing in common: huge prices for common crap.
spacechild1 3y ago
In Austria, Spar is one of the two major supermarket chains. (The other one is Billa.)
- Sharlin 3y ago
  DACH = Germany, Austria, Switzerland

entropyie 3y ago

They are absolutely everywhere in Ireland, from countryside to city centre, rich and poor areas.

pmckenna 3y ago
Was going to say the same thing. There’s zero correlation between touristy spots and Spar in Ireland, unless East Wall has suddenly become a tourist hot spot without me hearing about it
- cianmm 3y ago
  Kin has really had the Sherif Street tourism industry breaking new ground
- HenryBemis 3y ago
  I was in Mallorca this summer. And I have shopped from Spar across Europe in the past. The various "Spar" in Mallorca are mom & pop mini markets with 20% higher prices than the Mercadona or Lidl. Walking outside such a "Spar" one you SEE that this is not you "central-europe-1000 sqm shop" but a rip-off with a Spar label on it. I haven't paid attention on the ATMs though. I believe that with the prevalence of Conotoxia, Revolut, and the likes, and the fact that everywhere* in Mallorca you can pay with your phone/watch, it makes carrying cash unnecessary *and I mean flea-market that sells crap that only tourists would buy, or bread/cheese/snacks/etc.
  - Ekaros 3y ago
    So they just are the certain size category shops. Usually small as the retail spaces are not supermarket sized. Thus they don't get benefits from scale and end up being expensive. The reality is that there is no big retail spaces near tourist attractions. Or those are much valuable when split up. Thus you end up with smaller stores that do not benefit as much from scale. If you do not like the prices, just travel enough to find equivalent of Walmart...
  - jmkd 3y ago
    I live in Mallorca and the amount of retailers and services that only take cash is significant, it includes: - several Palma bus lines (if you don't have the bus card) - the most traditional bakeries, tailors, dry cleaners and so on - 95% of the traders in my local municipal fruit and veg market - 95% of the traders in the largest antiques market - many cleaners, gardeners, painters, physiotherapists, swim instructors, yoga teachers etc In addition, many places will offer one price for cash, and another for paying with card, and we know what that's about. I've had to relearn having cash on my person, otherwise you can't get what you need several times a week.

as-j 3y ago

I thought batter example would the presence of a Hard Rock Cafe. :)