. . distributors pay the big bucks to get the supermarket chains to position their stuff in the "hot spots". It isn't just you, the consumer, who's paying for those impulse buys.

If they check the results from their loyalty cards (no preference there, I have a card for every one of them) they'll find I seldom buy anything except the loss leaders.

Everything else I buy from the independents, small chains and ethnic groceries - nearly everything is much cheaper at those stores. So much for "economies of scale".

Only one problem with that strategy - parking. These stores have parking lots as large as those at the big chains, but I have to time my arrival to get a parking space. I once tried to buy something at Super King not at my regular time. Their parking lot is larger than that of most of the majors - but there was nearly a quarter mile line to get into the parking lot.

I often shop at 168 Market instaad of at Hawaii Supermarket because 168 has a parking lot almost the size of a city block and there's always a space, while at Hawaii it's always strictly "luck of the draw".

It's clear a lot of other people are using the same strategy I am.

Incidentally, the checkout lines aren't any longer than at the majors. Vons may have 2 or 3 checkout lines open, while Super King or Sunland Produce usually have at least 6, and 8 to 10 at peak load times.