Discussion about expensiveness and purchasing power in Ardahan market

While citizens complained about high prices and decreasing purchasing power in the neighborhood market established in Ardahan, marketers complained about increasing costs, especially diesel.

“CITIZENS ARE TROUBLED ON ONE SIDE, THE SELLER IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.”

Another marketer, who came from Iğdır to Ardahan to sell, stated that transportation costs were a strain on them and said:

"We come from Iğdır. We make cars for 6-7 thousand liras until we get here. The roundtrip cost is 10 liras. We give them to the citizens for 50 liras, three kilos for 100 liras. Of course, a citizen still says it is expensive. The citizens are worried on one side, the seller is worried on the other. We are confused about what to do. We call on our elders. What will happen to this oppressed person? How far will it go, how will it happen? We do not understand what we will do. "We don't know."

Another tradesman selling in the market stated that the sales were stagnant and said, "It is interrupted. There is a crowd, but frankly, business is interrupted in Ardahan."

Dilara, a marketer from Ardahan, said that sales are good but the purchasing power of citizens is low. Dilara said, "I am from Ardahan, I work as a marketer. Our sales are good. Yes, citizens complain about the high prices, but the prices are not high. Since people do not have purchasing power, life in general is bad and the economy is unfortunately bad."

“RETIREMENT IS ALREADY OVER”

A retired citizen who was shopping in the market complained about the high prices and said, "Everything is expensive. We shopped. Retired man, the money we bought is 30 thousand liras. A kilo of apples is 50 liras. Think about it."

Another retired citizen who lives in Istanbul and spends the summer months in his hometown, Ardahan, stated that economic conditions put a strain on retirees and said, "I live in Istanbul, I am in Ardahan in the summers. Life is not going well at all. How will life be at this expense? How much money does a retiree get? 30 million. Is it true? Yes. Unfortunately, it is not going well at all. Retirement is already over."

“EVERYTHING IS AT THE EXPENSE OF FIRE”

A citizen who came to the market to shop reacted to the prices and said, "Everything is expensive, man. There are no potatoes or onions. Everything is expensive."

Another citizen argued that the prices were normal and said, "We are shopping, the prices are normal. Of course, there is a little expensiveness in life. Vegetables are normal after the price of diesel is like this."

Another citizen from Ardahan pointed out that most of the products in the city come from abroad and said, "We love Ardahan. Shopping is normal. Currently, Ardahan is the most expensive city in Turkey, but as far as I can see, Ardahan has become cheaper and fruit is also cheap. Of course, nothing is produced in Ardahan. Since it comes from far away, there is a transportation business and workers. This needs to be considered. Citizens need to think about this and speak accordingly."

“THEY DO NOT GIVE TOMATOES FOR 20 TL IN THE FIELDS”

Marketer Mehmet Özadanır stated that sales were good and some products were sold at affordable prices and said, "Sales were good today, thank God. Prices are cheap, man, prices are free. Tomatoes for 20 liras. They don't sell them in the field. Grapes for 50 liras. The man doesn't pick them in his vineyard for 50 liras. Diesel is expensive, the cost is high. People can't afford it. Look, the man couldn't sell the tomatoes, we sell them for 20 liras. What does this mean to the farmer?" Look, we bought this, the farmer bought it from someone else, he made this, he made this, so how much is this? he said.