"Gels are poured into different bottles — from yogurts or from kefir." What and how Belarusians buy and sell at the Polish market in Bialystok
An elderly Pole runs around the parking lot in search of Belarusian cigarettes. At the exchange office, dollars are exchanged a little more profitably if you hand in a thousand at once. And a salesperson in a household chemicals shop teaches how to discreetly smuggle laundry capsules across the border.
MostMedia visited the Cavalry Market in Bialystok and saw what Belarusians coming to Poland for goods buy.
A little further from the main parking lot stands a Hyundai with Grodno license plates, next to it — a car with Polish ones. Both have their trunks open.
A man near the Polish car carefully wipes a canister and puts it into the vehicle: apparently, he just bought fuel from a Belarusian. A crossover's tank holds 50-55 liters, and to get from Bruzgi to Bialystok and back, only 12-15 are needed. If one approaches the matter thoroughly, about forty liters can be drained without much problem.
There are also many cars with Belarusian license plates in the large parking lot. An elderly man wanders among them. As soon as he sees a new car, he runs to it — looking for someone who resells Belarusian cigarettes. This becomes clear when he addresses a man who has gotten out of his car and gestures smoking. The Belarusian shakes his head in negative response.
— Are you looking for cigarettes, sir?
— Do you have cigarettes, madam?
— No. I wanted to ask how much Belarusians usually sell them for.
— Why do you need that information, madam? — the man irritably snaps and runs to the next car.
"On average, they exchange 300-400 dollars"
Buying coffee at a kebab stand, we ask the seller if many Belarusians come here.
— Many! Fewer on Sundays, but still enough, — replies the seller, quickly brewing coffee. A couple of spoons of instant coffee, poured with boiling water, — five zlotys. Sugar and milk are not offered.
You cannot pay by card here — only cash or via Blik by phone number. Apparently, the business is specifically designed for tourists.
Nearby — an exchange office. The rate on the board at that moment is 3.66 zlotys per dollar. A couple clarifies with the currency exchanger how much they will get for 300 dollars. He takes a calculator, enters the numbers, and shows the result to the Belarusians. They nod and exchange currency.
— Does your rate depend on the number of dollars?
— Naturally, — the Pole replies briefly.
— And how much do Belarusians usually exchange?
— It varies. Sometimes they bring a hundred — then the rate is as on the board. And sometimes they hand in a thousand at once — then I'll count more, it will be more profitable for Belarusians. On average, they exchange 300-400 dollars — in such a case, I also add money on top.
They hide capsules in their pockets, and pour gels into bottles
Meanwhile, the parking lot continues to fill with cars with Belarusian license plates. Buyers from Belarus head to where household chemicals, chocolate, and coffee are sold.
The small pavilion is filled to the brim with goods. Chocolates and coffee are next to washing powders, dishwasher tablets, fabric softeners, and bleaches. Effervescent vitamins are also here.
It is noticeable that many price tags show two prices at once: for example, a box of Toffifee candies costs 8 zlotys, and the second price for it is 6.50. Apparently, this is the price before and after VAT deduction.
Buyers walk through the narrow aisles with phones in their hands — many have an open gallery with a photo of the desired product. We take a package of laundry capsules.
— Can I take this to Belarus?
— If you hide it well — you can, — answers the seller and clarifies whether the capsules are for personal use. Hearing that they are for personal use, he adds:
— I'll give you a bag, you'll pour the capsules into it, and throw away the box. That's what your people do — they hide capsules in their pockets.
— And if I want to transport gel, what should I do with it?
— Gels are poured into different bottles — from yogurts, for example, or from kefir, — shares the seller, revealing secrets of transporting sanctioned goods.
It must be said that we didn't see any buyers with washing powder — probably few want to risk it at the border with "sanctioned goods." For this, one can receive a fine and be sent "back."
Mainly, they buy coffee, tea, chocolates, and Nutella chocolate spread.
"Remember, there used to be special visas for shopping"
At the entrance to the pavilion stands a Belarusian with a huge bag of toilet paper, explaining to someone on the phone exactly where his car is in the parking lot.
He didn't come to Bialystok for shopping — here he needs to meet relatives returning from a resort: they will travel from Warsaw to Bialystok by bus, and then transfer to his car here.
— If I didn't have to pick them up, I wouldn't have come here at all, — says the man. — There's no longer the shopping here like before. I took toilet paper out of old habit — we used to bring it by the trunk-load. But now it costs no more expensively even in our country: Fix Price has the same prices as here. And what's the difference which one I use — Russian or Polish.
The man recalls that shopping in Poland was indeed profitable once.
— Remember, there used to be special visas for shopping? You'd go to the consulate, bring all the necessary documents, receipts from Auchan — and there you had a reason for a visa. And now? Even tourist visas are issued for single entry... And if you buy an invitation from some Pole — that's 300 dollars just for the document. Plus the appointment, and insurance... And you come here — for what? To save two dollars on coffee? Nah, — waving his hand, the man picks up the toilet paper and heads to the parking lot.
"Did you see the prices for our Baranovichi products?"
In the clothing stalls near the pavilions, there aren't many people — and, judging by the conversations, they are mostly Poles. There's a large crowd in the pavilions with jewelry and power tools.
Two Belarusian women stop by a bedding stall.
— A double bedding set for 55 zlotys (15 dollars). Maybe I should take it?
— You open it, see what the quality will be like. It's better to overpay and buy ours, Baranovichi-made…
— And did you see the prices for our Baranovichi-made? 200 rubles for a set — five times more expensive!
The dispute ends in favor of the Polish linen — as a result, both women buy it.
In a tent with washing powder, the seller praises the price of Tide — 110 zlotys (30 dollars) for 10 kilograms.
— Can I take such a package to Belarus?
— No, you can't. Your people mostly take capsules, and you can't hide this package at all — so don't buy it, — the seller honestly warns.
There are more and more cars in the parking lot. Someone is already loading purchases into the trunk, someone is just heading for shopping.
And the man in search of Belarusian cigarettes still runs up to every new car — but, judging by his empty bag, his search remains unsuccessful so far.
Now reading
Remember the Minsk resident who saved the flag from under the OMON officers' feet in 2017 — at the cost of his freedom? Now he, a former political prisoner, needs help 1414
Remember the Minsk resident who saved the flag from under the OMON officers' feet in 2017 — at the cost of his freedom? Now he, a former political prisoner, needs help 14
"They see Belarus as part of Russia." What the rise of "Alternative for Germany" means, how far it can go, and how Belarusians should position themselves 5858
Comments