Social market (retail)

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Information in the shop window, SOMA in St. Pölten

A social market is a limited discount store for people with low incomes.

In the wake of the economic crisis, retail trade for people with low incomes has developed. When registering, buyers must provide proof of income (social welfare office, AMS, pension confirmation, wage slip, etc.) that they have a low income, and they receive a membership card from the social market as authorization to buy. Only goods are offered free of charge from regular grocery stores after or shortly before the best-before date or because of small errors (e.g. in the labeling). The price of the goods is mostly below 50% of the usual retail price. Often there is also a limit for the total purchase amount, for example 10 euros a week. Business hours can also be restricted.

In the past few years in particular, several such social markets have emerged and now offer good coverage in more densely populated areas.

These include:

Samaritan League

Social shop

Le + O

SoMa Vienna

Aid agency

Web links

Commons : social market  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Inedible goods and harassment in the social market at diepresse.com
2. ^ Topic "Social Markets" - Social Info Vienna. Retrieved January 4, 2020 . 
3. ↑ Social Shop - Help for those in need. Accessed January 4, 2020 (German). 
4. ↑ General | Social market Vienna. Retrieved January 4, 2020 .