The fluctuating shopping prices by season.
During the tourist season, many islanders and inhabitants of Istrian tourist towns often visit stores in Rijeka. They claim that prices there are lower than in their towns. For example, in Crikvenica a small bottle of juice costs 17 kuna in an ordinary shop. A “Cedevita To Go” in a fast food establishment in Poreč costs 28 kuna. We could go on forever, because examples are endless. Retail chain Lidl has decided to take advantage of the variations in prices in other chains. Their new marketing slogan is “Our Prices Are the Same at All Our Shops in Croatia”, reports Novi List on August 12, 2015.
Why do shops raise their prices? Simple answer is because they can. If they were to see that their price policies are wrong and that they are not selling their expensive juices, they would not increase the prices.
On the other hand, restaurateurs in tourist towns would like for the retail chains to be as expensive as possible. Then, they hope, more tourists would eat in their restaurants. So, no one is satisfied. If the prices in supermarkets are acceptable, then the restaurateurs complain. If the prices are high, the locals rebel.
Looking at prices in Rijeka and on the islands, we have noticed certain differences, a kuna or two per product. But, of course, much larger problem are smaller neighbourhood shops, markets and fast food establishments.
Franjo from Samobor agrees that the prices in stores on Krk, including those of national retail chains such as Konzum and Plodine, are pretty high. “In Krk, in relation to Zagreb or Samobor, the prices are at least 15 percent higher. For some products, the price differences are even larger, up to 20 or even 30 percent, which is excessive. “Plodine are even worse in determining its prices, so I wonder how local people here manage to survive. Tourists come for a week and pay what they have to, but for the locals purchasing food is a rather traumatic experience.”
His opinion is shared by Anamaria Satinović from the island. “In relation to winter prices, everything is more expensive by 10 to 20 percent. We can all see that, and it is no secret that for more extensive purchases the majority of islanders go to the mainland. I hear from many of the islanders that they go to Lidl in Rijeka, where the prices are considerably lower.
It is not difficult to see that every summer prices on every single product in the island supermarkets increase by a kuna or two. It might not seem like much, but when you live there and you are forced to buy food every day, this is a difference which can ultimately be felt in your wallet.
