Everyone knows supermarkets are notoriously boring places. The supermarket game adds some excitement to them. The idea is pretty simple: pick a suitably mug-like-looking shopper* and follow him/her round. The best targets are those people who stand for ages looking at one area on a shelf without moving.

Once you have picked your target, follow him/her around with your trolley. As you follow them, stop when they stop and take exactly the same products off the shelves as they do. The winner of the game is the person who gets the most items before getting caught by their target.

For extra points, go for really diverse products that are less common, and products on extreme (highest and lowest) shelves. Also, really stick your nose into the displays - poke around and spend ages reading the labels.

The game works best in quieter hours, when there are fewer shoppers - this makes it more of a challenge as there's a greater chance of being spotted.

*These are people who seem dozy, and dawdle a bit. They generally look like they have no idea what they are doing or where anything is.
-- NickTheGreat, Aug 07 2002

Cleanup on Aisle 7! http://www.crimelib...-Simpson-bookin.jpg
mug-like-looking shopper* [thumbwax, Aug 07 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Sextables re-Produce http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Sextables
Overtly shameless plug. Try it here. [polartomato, Aug 08 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

what's a "mug-like-looking shopper" look like, anyway? Any of the "mug" looking people around here probably *are* muggers..
-- Mr Burns, Aug 07 2002


Who referees? Or does it work on the honor system?
-- phoenix, Aug 07 2002


* thanks for clearing that up.
-- Mr Burns, Aug 07 2002


Wasn't there a list circulating around the internet called "50 fun things to do in Wal-Mart"? It had things like following people around, abandoning carts, and pitching tents in the camping department...

Are there Wal-Marts in the UK?
-- BinaryCookies, Aug 07 2002


I'm unclear on the rules. Should one "take exactly the same products off the shelves" or "go for really diverse products"? Shirley if you're duplicating another person's selection, you have no freedom.
-- angel, Aug 08 2002


It's best to really miff people and take the exact same products off the shelves. If they are taking diverse products, it's better as fewer people will be going for those, making it more blatant.
-- NickTheGreat, Aug 08 2002


Hmm... I dunno. I guess it's worth a try. But I'd rather be sailing around on my ridable shopping cart/trolley than participating in synchronized creamed corn selection.

BTW, I can think of a halfbaked grocery store that would make this game a helluvalotta more exciting...

BTW, I wouldn't buy OJ with OJ for the life of me.
-- polartomato, Aug 08 2002


BinaryCookies: Wal-Mart bought Asda (a UK super market chain) and Asda has begun a cost-cutting campaign with the stated aim of achieving parity with American prices. No re-branding has taken place.
-- Aristotle, Aug 09 2002


The funner thing to do is "shop for other people." In this game, you pass place items in other shopper's cart without getting caught. This works out better than the original itdea since the player doesn't get stuck with a load of things they really didn't want in the first place or have a cart load of melting frozen items to hide.
-- bravesirrobin, Aug 09 2002


Ray starts following Nick around the bakery...
-- RayfordSteele, Aug 09 2002



random, halfbakery