Corecom

Anyone purchasing goods at Corecom but not authorised to possess foreign currency ran the risk of investigation by the authorities.

[1] In addition to major Western currencies, such as US dollars, Corecom stores also accepted foreign exchange certificates.

Western consumer goods sold at these stores were not available at regular retail outlets, including imported spirits and tobacco products (e.g. Scotch whisky and Marlboro cigarettes), consumer electronics (e.g. VCRs and video cameras), cosmetics, clothing, magazines, toys, and even foodstuffs such as Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs (commonly known as "корекомски яйца" or "Corecom eggs" at the time).

[2] There were also Bulgarian products that were either destined exclusively for export or ordinarily required signing up on long waiting lists.

Ironically, by making the significantly greater diversity and quality of Western consumer goods conspicuous yet inaccessible to the vast majority of the population, the communist party elites inadvertently demonstrated the hypocrisy of their anti-Western rhetoric.