Ramadawn is two months away, so I’m trying to beat the Ramadawn prices and start my shopping in advance.

First I start out the new Riyaline (2 Riyal) store recently built opposite to the park adjacent to my apartment building. A Pakistani expatriate runs this little shop, he looks up as I approach the store and then continues his packing.

A few seconds after a two young boys enter the store inquiring about the price of a soccer ball.

“Mohammed bi kam haza?” , the two young boys inquired as they point to the soccer balls.

“25 Riyals” said the shopkeeper.

“25!” exclaimed the younger of the two. “But you said 10 riyals a few days ago.”

The shopkeeper knowing that the boy wants the ball told him, “All 10 riyal balls are finished. 

The boys squabble a little and then hands over the money. The shopkeeper pays little attention to then and continues packing.

Soccer is an important sport to the Saudis so they’ll pay the price for the ball, as one of my former students told me “Saudis invented Soccer.” Being unmannerly as I am I burst out into an uncontrollable laughter. That is as equivalent to saying America invented English Language.

A few seconds later the younger boy returned complaining about the ball. It got a puncture at the first kick.

“Mohammed the ball is damaged.”  He said while pointing to the damaged area.

The shopkeeper asked him “So what you want me to do?”

“Give me back my money.” The lad replied.

The shopkeeper gives him back his money, and then says. “Damage balls 7 riyals.”

The youngster handed over the 7riyals and exits, kicking the ball into the busy street.

I smirked beneath my Niqab, business is business it’ better to loose some than to loose all.

After evaluating the shop I got a few unnecessary things me daughter wanted and exited.

Next I went to Zahra Mall; I picked up a sunflower hat for my baby daughter unlike the Saudi’s we’ll be going to the park during the day to do our picnic.

An extremely bright orange shocking colored jersey for my older daughter and sexy spaghetti strap top, an expensive handbag, and some hair care products for myself, now these items are for our nighttime celebration at our Arab friends house, I still have to go back and get me that slick looking glass slippers with golden straps.

The Mall hasn’t changed in the space of time that I last visited it, the prices are the same so are the clothes, the stores are designed the same way not much improvement.

I proceed to the cashier; he flung his gutrow behind his shoulder and starts tabbing away. He picks up the hat and says “5 riyals.” I nod with approval; he as well as I knew that the price written on the trolley where I got the hat was 3 riyals so I ignore him instead of making much ado about nothing.

It is a general trick that many stores use; they place on price next to the item and another price in the database. If a customer inquires they simply say, “Oh that was for the old stock.”

Many supermarket do this trick, they place items at the front of the supermarket “Buy2 get 1 free” when in reality you buy three at an extremely marked up price.

A few weeks ago I went to Bin Dawood, at the front of the store stood stashes of Harpic toilet cleaner 17 Riyals Buy2 get 1 free. I walked to the back of the store where customers hardly ever go, the price of one Harpic was 4 Riyals, so if I buy three single bottles of Harpic I would pay 12 Riyals saving 5 Riyals.

Hyper Panda is one of the largest supermarkets in Madinah, thus it is the best to buy variety items that you don’t find in the normal supermarket, like Plantain and nice fresh fruits in good condition.

Special offer!! How special are they. I came across a large tin of Tang tropical punch with a free mug, 35 Riyals.  I left it and went looking for the price with out the free mug 28 Riyals. So much for free mug!

Shopping can be one of the most exhausted things. In most Supermarkets the sales reps never seem to know where anything is or the prices. But that is far from the reality it just because I am with husband. If I go alone I don’t even have to ask, they seem to read my mind or at least bring the whole store for me to choose what I want.

This is easily comprehended these expatriate are lonely they can’t afford to bring their wives here nor to marry here; thus they are not interested in speaking to any men. They especially love talking to foreign women who don’t have their faces covered or who don’t know Arabic.

Still have at least ten more stores to go.