Cheap Goods
In my last journal entry I made a comment about buying cheap goods at Wal Mart, Target, etc...that one might be buying themselves out of a job. In my haste to write that journal I didn't clarify enough what I was saying. After all, buying software from Intuit has nothing to do with buying cheap goods at Wal Mart, Target, etc... I buy plenty of products from overseas markets (Look at my Join the Circus -> Equipment section - I made a column for where the item is made) I'm a believer in global trade with some caveats that I won't mention here. What I should have said is that if we only focus on going for the low price for everything - we blind ourselves to side effects that may not be very desireable. I mentioned Wal Mart - because they are relentless on offering cheap prices and they advertise that fact constantly. And because they have so much market clout. An earlier link a few journals ago has a discussion about this.
As for side effects and price:
1) You pay less for a certain food product vs a natural one - you may save in the short run, but what if that food product has an undesirable chemical, more fat, etc...then let's say you gain weight from eating it or have some sort of health condition as a result of it over time. Then you have to deal with that problem which costs time and money. Thus, negating any overall benefit in the first place.
2) Sure..Wal Mart offers cheap prices. But, at what price to a community? One look I took at many smaller towns with a Wal Mart or other singular dominant retailer - they are dumps. With little to no charm. Some of them probably already looked dumpy, but many likely became dumpy over time.
3) If you claim to stand for certain values (Social, environmental, political, etc...) then it isn't just your direct actions that contribute to promoting those values. But, also the things you buy. And if we are so focused on price we overlook the fact that we might be supporting some undesirable values that the cheapest company/retailer promotes. (Not exclusive to cheap companies, pricey producers do it too)
So..I guess it goes to say we shouldn't be overly focused on any one aspect when it comes to buying something.
As for side effects and price:
1) You pay less for a certain food product vs a natural one - you may save in the short run, but what if that food product has an undesirable chemical, more fat, etc...then let's say you gain weight from eating it or have some sort of health condition as a result of it over time. Then you have to deal with that problem which costs time and money. Thus, negating any overall benefit in the first place.
2) Sure..Wal Mart offers cheap prices. But, at what price to a community? One look I took at many smaller towns with a Wal Mart or other singular dominant retailer - they are dumps. With little to no charm. Some of them probably already looked dumpy, but many likely became dumpy over time.
3) If you claim to stand for certain values (Social, environmental, political, etc...) then it isn't just your direct actions that contribute to promoting those values. But, also the things you buy. And if we are so focused on price we overlook the fact that we might be supporting some undesirable values that the cheapest company/retailer promotes. (Not exclusive to cheap companies, pricey producers do it too)
So..I guess it goes to say we shouldn't be overly focused on any one aspect when it comes to buying something.
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