I am sure that this subject has been broached previously on these pages but it is definitely worth repeating. It is the somewhat touchy subject of ‘special offer’ greed.

Every so often I learn about a deal in the local supermarket, so off I go with my ‘bag for life’ and when I get to the specific aisle that might be offering half price tea bags, or ‘buy one, get one free’ detergent – the shelf is empty.

So I get into my car and visit the larger supermarket – once again the shelf is empty.

When I politely make an inquiry about the said item from a worker at the store, I am greeted with a bemused look, and a comment, ‘They all went in the first hour love’.

However when I make a visit to my cousin who lives in a non-Asian area and visit the said supermarket there is a reasonable amount of availability of the special offer item. (Oh dear I’m letting a secret out of the bag!) That got me thinking – are we just natural hoarders of food?

Upon various discussions with local people I have been told that some staff at these supermarkets will inform close family members, and on occasions will take advantage of the offers for themselves.

Also, rather than pick up a couple of packs of teabags – people will often fill their whole trolley.

Since many of the supermarkets do not monitor the amount purchased, and the advent of self-service tills, these practices cannot be controlled.

I saw the above in action a few weeks ago involving some almonds. The local supermarket had an offer on the nut – ‘buy one, get two free’. As my other half is a big fan of almonds I was going to buy one pack, and obviously get two free.

When I got to the stand I was confronted by an Asian lady literally placing dozens of the packs in the trolley, while on her mobile phone asking other family members whether they wanted some. I just about managed to acquire my three packs, but I found the whole scene unpalatable.

It is too easy to say that these people are being smart, or frugal. I just call it rude, inconsiderate and above all – greedy!