This is a real thought provoker. Australia is a first world country, of course, but when shopping the other day I couldn't help noticing the difference between the rich and the poor shops and regions. It almost fits with what you say about being hungry. I live in a poorer region and the people serving you are more helpful and less inclined to rip you off than if you use shops and services in the more desirable regions.

What I've noticed most recently is the difference in enforcement of the covid sign in as well, between the shops. Our local JB Hifi has the covid tracking scan code, but it's more for show and legal reasons, so you use it if you want. Go to a better suburb and you can't get in the shop unless you've scanned or signed in and if you scan they'll want proof you've done it properly. So they lose some of their customers who don't want to do this. The Apple store apparently won't even give you entry if you don't make an appointment. Yet the shops which cater for the poorer end of the market don't cause any hassle.

You need a car here much more than the UK, but they are fairly good at having enough local shopping precincts that you can reach to obtain essentials if you don't have a car, so it's balancing out. There's also more chance of finding cables for technology because it's first world and there are providers at every budget level.

It's almost like you're stuck between two worlds in a second world country and they're losing the best bits from both third and first worlds.