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Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

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Re: Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

#112
post #8

Funny how the two most pro-Russian EU countries, Hungary and Austria, are the ones suffering the worst inflation despite continuing to trade with Russia. The only parts of the countries doing well are Budapest and Vienna that are both controlled by opposition parties.

Cant talk about Hungary but in Austria the reason is the incredibly broad and untargeted financial assistance for everybody because of the energy crisis and covid. The reason for this is technical incompetence and cowardice of the government. They could not have done something better even if they wanted and they fear the voters far too much to let some hurt go through the system. I am no rich antigovernment libertari…

Just to reiterate, my electricity bill last year went down from 1k to about 650Eur because of some aid or another while I am sure some family cant afford basic necessities.

Re: Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

#113
post #9

Had a "oh shit" moment reading the article. I live in Germany, and of course buy groceries. The "discount" games seem very obvious now. Food expenses have risen very significantly recently. Great article, I hope this gains more traction and or legal ramifications for the grocers.

One trick I noticed while doing data input for supermarkets (in a different market) is that price rises are always advertised as promotions. Say a supermarket has a $1.10 item and they want to increase that product to $1.50. They'll up the price to $1.50 immediately, and add a "40c off" to the ticket. The consumer sees "promotion" and assumes it's a discount, when it's actually just the same price as usual. Then ~2 w…

I think that would be illegal in most European countries. It has to be a "real" discount. Often means to have been sold at the original price advertised for at least a month.

Re: Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is relevant to the context of this thread in general. Even if Polish consumers are spared the trick of raising prices through fake discounts as the OP mentioned, they still suffer from the same surge in prices that many of the European posters here are complaining about. Nowhere in my post was I calling for price controls.

your comment was suggestive of it whether that was your intention or not

Where? In that post I shared my own personal strategy for saving money by doing my shopping at a wholesaler instead of an ordinary supermarket. No state intervention required.

Re: Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, I wouldn't say that Austria is pro-Russian. Neither official politics, nor the majority of the people (with the notable exception of the infamous FPÖ). Then, it's mostly about infrastructure. While the western parts of the country have broad access to renewable energy, like hydropower, the eastern parts heavily depend on natural gas, with not much of an alternative as far as infrastructure goes. We may also po…

I’ll help you with your research: Ex-Austrian minister who danced with Putin at wedding lands Russian oil job https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/02/former-austria...

Bruh, that's old news. She now moved to St. Petersburg to work for the Russian government and the Russian air-force had to fly her ponies in too (because that's what you use your airforce for in times of war). It sounds like an Onion article but it's real.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/14/karin-kneissl-...

Re: Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

#117
post #8

Funny how the two most pro-Russian EU countries, Hungary and Austria, are the ones suffering the worst inflation despite continuing to trade with Russia. The only parts of the countries doing well are Budapest and Vienna that are both controlled by opposition parties.

Cant talk about Hungary but in Austria the reason is the incredibly broad and untargeted financial assistance for everybody because of the energy crisis and covid. The reason for this is technical incompetence and cowardice of the government. They could not have done something better even if they wanted and they fear the voters far too much to let some hurt go through the system. I am no rich antigovernment libertari…

> have some effect on inflation.

But how does this concretely affect supermarkets? They presumably didn't raise wages, they didn't have to pay more for their wares(at least not at the level they raised their prices at, after all they have probably long-term contracts at generous oligopoly conditions) and their electricity bill is maybe at most 10% of their cost. This is purely extortion.

Re: Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

#119
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the US west coast, I just bought 1,816 grams (4 pounds) of raw peanuts for $8.00. Edit: if the comparison is dry salted peanuts, then Walmart sells Planters brand for ~$3.50 per 500 grams.

My friends on the west coast earn around ~5-7x times what I earn as a SWE in Vienna.

But the fact people stay in Vienna means they are paying people fairly there.

Re: Tracking Austrian grocery prices by scraping store sites

#120
post #118

Lots of comments here saying Germany is 30 percent cheaper than Austria. Isn’t living in Vienna much cheaper than living in big cities in Germany like Berlin and Munich? So overall it’s still a better deal to live in Vienna than in Munich.

Depends. Germany is a lot bigger than just Munich and Berlin.

There are cheaper places in Germany (NRW for example) where you can pay rent close or even less than Vienna while still benefiting from much cheaper products and let's not forget, the higher wages (there's no big tech nor big SW companies in Austria so tech wages are depressing).

So you're still better off in Germany, if wage/Col is your priority and not the history/culture/vibe and other such non-easily quantifiable things.

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