Tiendas de Raya

A "Tienda de Raya" was an hacienda.No one liked "Tiendas de Raya", which would give us a reason to ponder on this thought: How were they able to sustain a steady business? The answer is as follows: "Tiendas de Raya" had a plentiful variety of goods. the catch? you had to work at the hacienda to be able to buy at the shop. "Tiendas de Raya" were called in that fashion because if you couldn´t sign the contract because you couldn´t write, you just had to put a line or a dash. Also you had to do exactly what the proprietor or propietress says once you have signed the sheet that confirms your purchase. At the "Tienda de Raya" they pay you, but in special money that can only be used at their store. It was a type of slavery, but the owner had an excuse, the excuse was that they paid, unlike slaves. In addition to the cruelty, the owner set the prices, so you could not bargain, and the owner ended up with the money they gave you. another downside is that if the worker had any debts his or her family had to pay them off when he or she died. Now you see why "Tiendas de Raya" were so unpopular in the country of Mexico. Luckily they do not exist in Mexico anymore.

By: Patrick