I'm really appalled of the Moscow syndromes in UK you described. I thought
UK is an advanced country with high living standards. I really can't
associate what you described with the image of UK. I traveled to UK
about 18 years ago. Although I don't recall much now, I still remember
that it's a very nice country.

I live in the US and I can say that the Moscow syndrome would only
happen if there is a disaster, or something unthinkable happened. The
shelves are always full of products. The products rarely run out,
unless they are special items with low low price. Sometimes, a
supermarket will offer rock bottom prices for certain items, but
they always have enough supply. For non-food items, they will issue
rainchecks so that one can get the out-of-stock items with the same
price later on.

Do you think that the problem associated with the supermarkets you
mentioned is just due to poor stock management? Is it possible that
it is due to inefficiences in distribution channels? I think the supermarkets
will lose customers and forgive potential profits if they allow
the shelves to go empty. Are they stupid or is it just the way of
life in UK?

--
**************************************************************************
*  Wilson Poon                        *  _/            _/     _/_/_/     *
*  Dept. of Mechanical Engineering    *   _/          _/      _/   _/    *
*  University of Minnesota            *    _/   _/   _/       _/_/_/     *
*  poon0...@gold.tc.umn.edu           *     _/ _/ _/_/        _/         *
*  Common sense is not common at all. *      _/    _/    _/   _/    _/   *
**************************************************************************