Saudi- ATMs buckle under pressure amid shopping spree in Jazan

(MENAFN- Arab News) JAZAN: Intensive shopping in view of Ramadan has led to overcrowding in Jazan shopping centers and ATM machines witnessed over usage which led to breakdowns local media has reported.
Ahmad Abdullah a worker in a shopping center said congestion is an annual event during the holy month because many families rush to buy their supplies.
Needs of shoppers in Jazan vary with some families preferring to use modern shopping centers where everything is sold under one roof while others like to buy their goods from different markets.
Hisham Ali a salesman in a shopping center said families pay a lot of money for food during Ramadan. He expressed annoyance at kiosks that lay their products on the sidewalks outside shopping centers to sell food items which could be out of date.
People buy from these vendors because of low prices. He called on the authorities concerned to intensify controls and protect the markets and local products as well as take measures to curb the spread of vendors who violate the system.
Ibrahim Jaafari and Yahya Zakan said shopping in Ramadan is different from the rest of the year but exaggerated purchases have become a habit for many people. They pointed out that shopping should be according to the needs of families and people should stop competing to buy a lot of supplies.
They said that people should posses commonsense so as not to waste and throw food in addition to refraining from buying supplies during special offers or discounts which tempt many people to purchase things they might not need.