In “The $2 Camisole: How Cheap is Ruining Our Lives,” Mary Williams laments the downside of our cultural drive towards ever lower prices for goods. She points out that no garment can possibly be produced for that tiny sum and that the market’s drive to ever-lower prices leaves behind many hidden costs from human to environmental. Ms Williams also notes the decline in quality of today’s goods, with many purchases wearing out almost in a “disposable” fashion, and the incredible amount of waste created when an entire item gets thrown out because there is no savings in replacing a single part rather than the whole.
In Mary’s words: “It’s not that I enjoy paying more, it’s just that shouldn’t some things — like sushi, stereo systems and brand-new clothes — be valued more?… I’m no stranger to the allure of rock-bottom prices… I pay too much for housing, movie tickets and prescription medications. But paying too little for an umbrella that falls apart after one windy outing doesn’t mitigate that.”
How do you feel about the things you are buying? Do you think quality has declined too much? Are there advantages to the almost-disposable way we acquire and discard goods these days or is the price of that habit too high in terms of human and universal costs? Consider the psychological impact as well. Do you think you may value things less, possibly even enjoy them less, when the price is very low and many easy substitutes are available?
We would love to hear about your approach to buying. What kinds of purchases and buying experiences enhance your life (and your glow!)? Which ones are more like a leak in your glow bubble?
Read the whole article in Salon:
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/07/30/how_cheap_is_too_cheap/index.html
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