Argen, Sign Hung in Store Sparks SNS Buzz
Owner: "Sales Dropped and Electricity Bills Rose, No Choice"
National University Turns Off Lights During Lectures
A sign reading "Please bring a flashlight" hung at the entrance of a butcher shop in Argentina, which is experiencing a severe economic crisis, has become a hot topic. This is to save on soaring electricity bills.
Local media recently reported the story of a butcher shop in Gualeguaych?, central Argentina, which has been gaining attention on social networks (SNS), describing it as "a desperate measure by the shop owner to save on electricity bills."
The butcher shop owner, Walter, explained to reporters, "Due to high inflation, sales keep dropping, but the electricity bill has jumped more than threefold from 300,000 pesos (460,000 KRW) to 980,000 pesos (1,510,000 KRW). We had no choice but to keep only the refrigerator on, turn off the lights during the day to welcome customers, and in the evening, turn off most of the lights and post a notice asking customers to bring flashlights."
Walter said, "Some customers understand, while others do not. A few got angry, but most took it with humor. Customers use their cellphone flashlights to enter. Going forward, we plan to keep the shop open during lunchtime and use natural daylight for business."
A sign that reads "Welcome. Please turn on your flashlight before entering. Thank you" is hanging at a butcher shop in Argentina. [Image source=Yonhap News]
However, he added, "I still don't know if this action will actually have an effect when the next electricity bill arrives."
He also revealed that beef sales have dropped by about 50% due to soaring prices. Walter said, "The number of customers remains steady, but whereas before they bought by the kilogram, now they purchase small amounts according to the money they have on hand, such as 3,000 pesos (4,600 KRW) or 5,000 pesos (7,700 KRW)."
Argentina is facing an economic crisis with declining purchasing power within four months due to budget cuts by President Javier Milei, who took office last December advocating "anarcho-capitalism." The annual inflation rate is 288.9%, one of the highest in the world, and the cumulative inflation rate over the past two months is 26%.
Due to various subsidy cuts, electricity bills have surged by an average of 300% to as much as 600% over the past three months. As a result, most national universities are turning off all lights and conducting lectures in spaces with natural light or outdoors using whiteboards as chalkboards.
The University of Buenos Aires (UBA), unable to cope with the soaring electricity costs, has restricted elevator use in its 17-story building and announced a 40% reduction in surgeries at its affiliated national hospital.
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