No one knows exactly how or when the supermarket idea originated, but of course it is simply an extension of a countries' plan of mass production. The profit to the owner of the supermarket is only one percent of the goods sold. This is a very small margin of profit on each article sold. But the supermarket sells in such large quantities that its final profit is quite large.

     Prices of goods in supermarkets are, of course, much lower than in smaller, private grocery stores because supermarkets buy goods in such large volume that they can buy more cheaply than the independent grocer. Their selling prices, in turn, are lower. Also, customers in a supermarket help themselves. No clerks are needed, so there is a saving in labor costs. This saving is also passed on to the customer in the form of lower prices.

     Are there any disadvantages to buying in supermarkets? There are some. Certain people are opposed to big business in general, and they feel that the supermarket is another example of the way in which big business is gaining control over the world economy. The small independent grocer, as mentioned earlier, is fast disappearing from the economic scene. Furthermore, the supermarket idea is now being extended to other forms of business. Other stores, such as clothing stores and hardware stores, are introducing the self-service idea and copying other supermarket selling methods.

     Still other people feel that the supermarket represents a very cold and impersonal way of doing business. In a supermarket, one buys almost mechanically. The corner grocer of an earlier period, on the other hand, conducted his business on a more simple, friendly basis. He knew each of his customers personally. He knew their personal likes and dislikes. He attended to his customers immediately. There was no waiting in long checkout lines to pay the cashier.

     Yet it sells at considerably lower prices, and this seems to be its principle attraction. On the basis of price, the independent grocer simply cannot compete with the much largeer, almost giant, Supermarket.