Aussie shopper sparks outrage over "boomer hour" pitch at supermarkets
A frustrated Aussie shopper has called for major supermarkets to implement a dedicated "boomer hour" for seniors to do their groceries.
The shopper, from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, caused an uproar after posting on Facebook saying that elderly customers should be "more mindful of time-poor workers and busy parents".
The person went on to write that senior shoppers often take up too much space in the aisles to stop and socialise, making it "inconvenient" for other shoppers in a rush.
The divisive post attracted a lot of attention, with many younger shoppers flocking to the comments to back the controversial idea.
One person said older shoppers should save their socialising for the cafe or park like “every other normal person”.
“This means not using the entire width of supermarket aisles as a catch-up spot to discuss what cruise Bazza’s on, or how the tenants in Jenny’s 13th investment property are really grinding her gears because they want the aircon fixed before summer. Not at 5pm on a weekday.”
Despite some support for the idea, consumer behaviour analyst Barry Urquhart branded the idea as "ageism personified".
"It won't work because they are a primary driver of the marketplace at the moment," he told Seven News.
"At a time where the cost of living and the cost of doing business is acute, you can't turn and marginalise any consumer group."
"This is ageism personified. People are wanting to say 'let's marginalise the older people, let's make them invisible'' and they're saying 'no we're asserting ourselves in tourism, hospitality, flight purchases at large'," he said.
"Follow the money and the money in Australia at the moment is for people aged 50 years of age and older because they've got less mortgage, more discretionary purchases and are spending it."
Urquhart went on to tell 3AW radio that the measures would be impractical for businesses and senior shoppers.
He said, “Trying to group boomers into one group … it’s not possible.”
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