Black Friday in perspective
He doesn't have the Livejournal mirror for this post up yet, but Howard Tayler of the excellent strip Schlock Mercenary had some excellent thoughts on this past Friday.
Sure, I can get 75% off on that gadget, but I may have to commit aggravated assault in order to close the deal. So I stay home.
I suppose I should be pleased to learn that this year's Black Friday was a commercial success, and that the retail pulse of our nation's economy has quickened. Another part of me worries, though, that we have become a nation of consumers rather than producers. I'm sure more educated and eloquent writers than myself can decry consumerism more effectively, and perhaps even put forth alternatives. Me, I'll just quietly worry about it. But remember, when you buy something at 40% off, you're not saving money. You're SPENDING money. Saving money is what happens when you put the money into a bank.
I've worked retail before but never Black Friday. There is a reason for this, mostly because I have a very strong survival instinct. I also think it's crazy what people will do for a deal. All the way up to Christmas we are going to see more sales. More than likely that item you covet so much is going to be at that same price before Christmas sometime again. This happens every year. The difference is that on that one momentous day, everything is on sale everywhere. Still, if you want to be a smarter consumer, just watch the ads in December. Also, I have noticed that holiday pricing is sometimes a predictor of what some items will cost after Christmas, especially for items that have been on the market for awhile. Retailers not only use Black Friday as a way to lure people into their stores and increase sales, but it is a great time of year to unload stock that hasn't been moving but maybe used to. That's why Target was offering the Lord of the Rings DVD's at something like $3.50 a pop.
I also worry, as does Howard, that we are becoming consumers and not producers. The problem with that is that a country of consumers is eventually going to fall. We're using our money to prop up other countries' economies rather than our own. Sure, the world economy is often tied into the US, but doesn't that just make the prospect scarier? When we demand lower and lower prices to the point we refuse to buy anything at a price where it could be profitable to make in the US, we are actually hurting ourselves. I don't necessarily insist everything I buy be made in the US, but I think that insisting on the cheapest price for everything brand new is a bit silly. The real irony is that there is stil so much angst over off-shoring jobs. Well, whose job couldn't be off-shored? Sure, it's a great arguement that you won't get the quality you would if it were done here, but if your concern is cost then quality is obviously not the focus.
40% off and spending yourself out of a job does not sound like a great plan for a viable long-term economy. How much of the money that was spent this weekend will actually end up in the hands of US citizens?
To be honest, I'm not going to obsess over it. Lately the US doesn't seem to learn any lessons until it is far too late anyway. I also don't think the situation is as dire as some, and I believe that the market will march on. Still, at some point are we going to wonder exactly what the US does for the world, besides make movies? I think it's wonderful that we bring so much technology and innovation to the world, but if we continue to off-shore that then what is left? After you off-shore labor, people go into the idea market. What happens after ideas? What's left? While everyone runs around like lemmings worried about 40% off, I think I'll focus on the fact that my time and sanity is worth more to me than getting cheaper Christmas presents.
If nothing else, like Howard, I'm not big on committing assault in order to get a deal. I deal with enough rude people on a weekly basis to get a concentrated dose on Black Friday.
Sure, I can get 75% off on that gadget, but I may have to commit aggravated assault in order to close the deal. So I stay home.
I suppose I should be pleased to learn that this year's Black Friday was a commercial success, and that the retail pulse of our nation's economy has quickened. Another part of me worries, though, that we have become a nation of consumers rather than producers. I'm sure more educated and eloquent writers than myself can decry consumerism more effectively, and perhaps even put forth alternatives. Me, I'll just quietly worry about it. But remember, when you buy something at 40% off, you're not saving money. You're SPENDING money. Saving money is what happens when you put the money into a bank.
I've worked retail before but never Black Friday. There is a reason for this, mostly because I have a very strong survival instinct. I also think it's crazy what people will do for a deal. All the way up to Christmas we are going to see more sales. More than likely that item you covet so much is going to be at that same price before Christmas sometime again. This happens every year. The difference is that on that one momentous day, everything is on sale everywhere. Still, if you want to be a smarter consumer, just watch the ads in December. Also, I have noticed that holiday pricing is sometimes a predictor of what some items will cost after Christmas, especially for items that have been on the market for awhile. Retailers not only use Black Friday as a way to lure people into their stores and increase sales, but it is a great time of year to unload stock that hasn't been moving but maybe used to. That's why Target was offering the Lord of the Rings DVD's at something like $3.50 a pop.
I also worry, as does Howard, that we are becoming consumers and not producers. The problem with that is that a country of consumers is eventually going to fall. We're using our money to prop up other countries' economies rather than our own. Sure, the world economy is often tied into the US, but doesn't that just make the prospect scarier? When we demand lower and lower prices to the point we refuse to buy anything at a price where it could be profitable to make in the US, we are actually hurting ourselves. I don't necessarily insist everything I buy be made in the US, but I think that insisting on the cheapest price for everything brand new is a bit silly. The real irony is that there is stil so much angst over off-shoring jobs. Well, whose job couldn't be off-shored? Sure, it's a great arguement that you won't get the quality you would if it were done here, but if your concern is cost then quality is obviously not the focus.
40% off and spending yourself out of a job does not sound like a great plan for a viable long-term economy. How much of the money that was spent this weekend will actually end up in the hands of US citizens?
To be honest, I'm not going to obsess over it. Lately the US doesn't seem to learn any lessons until it is far too late anyway. I also don't think the situation is as dire as some, and I believe that the market will march on. Still, at some point are we going to wonder exactly what the US does for the world, besides make movies? I think it's wonderful that we bring so much technology and innovation to the world, but if we continue to off-shore that then what is left? After you off-shore labor, people go into the idea market. What happens after ideas? What's left? While everyone runs around like lemmings worried about 40% off, I think I'll focus on the fact that my time and sanity is worth more to me than getting cheaper Christmas presents.
If nothing else, like Howard, I'm not big on committing assault in order to get a deal. I deal with enough rude people on a weekly basis to get a concentrated dose on Black Friday.
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16:24:10 on 11/27/05
by Botswana -
Category: Biz and Tech
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