@Carolyn
Carolyn,
You are an American who is trying to do shopping in Bulgaria. By itself this is a comic situation already...

Here is what I recall as (the only) shopping experience back in the old, communist-driven economy there:
-It was an ordeal. Every day we would go from one shop to another to get things, and we paid in cash. No one had charge accounts, credit cards or checking accounts. And needless to say, the two hours in line every day.
-When you get out for doing shopping, you do not really have it planned, you buy what you find.

When it comes to “modern” Bulgaria, things are not much more different.
 
The lack of common sense and the ignorance regarding the principles of market economy were perhaps the 2 major characteristics of communist economy, which ruined the industry. Apparently, you are faced with the same 2 things, but the tragedy is that it is happening to you 22 years later!!! Communism was a state of mind and is yet to be erased from the collective consciousness. There were petty restrictions and needless layers of bureaucracy everywhere. Maybe Bulgaria survived communism as ideology, but has not yet outlived it, has not yet changed the state of mind. 
-Adrian