Sally asked:
<What would shopping be like in the Federation anyway? There must have been shops (that present the commander brings back for Sarkoff on Lindor, for one example) but somehow what we see of Dome life doesn't inspire me with any great confidence that it's much like what we would recognise (personally, I wouldn't mind betting that there's fairly hefty rationing laws in place in the Domes and Inner Worlds - it would just suit the atmosphere and be another way to control people).>
Well, there's always black market, of course. When the Dome citizens get tired of standing in lines waiting for merchandise which is officially available for coupons and tickets but in reality is always lacking, they go to illegal places. There's probably black market for everything, from decent quality clothes and food to luxury goods and art and also drugs and weapon and forged permits and passports, but everything costs its weight in gold. The merchandise may be brought from other planets by smugglers such as Jenna or even nicked by thieves such as Vila.
Naturally, to buy and sell on the black market is an offence, but I wonder what category it would be. Knowing that Jenna got a life sentence for smuggling, well... you could get exiled to Exbar for shopping.
N.