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A review by alassel
Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell
4.0
I wanted to read a nonfiction book this week, so I picked this out of my wishlist and set to it. I found the information and commentary more compelling than I expected, even having read other books on similar topics, and went through the book in just two days.
The American-led obsession with "Cheap" has had a huge impact on the world, including economic, social, and environmental effects throughout the globe. What began as searching for a good deal with value has devolved into buying the cheapest thing possible, regardless of whether it will fulfill its nominal purpose. Bargains have not become "best value for the price" but rather "getting more for less," which is an unsustainable concept that is rapidly coming to a head as resources and labor markets around the world are finally reaching the breaking point.
The author covers several examples, from the beginnings of discount store culture (hello Woolworths) and the rise of discount stores and outlet malls through how technological breakthroughs have made once luxury items into cheap trashy commodities (shrimp). I've been thinking about what I purchase more and more over the past few years, tending to buy less from big box stores and more from smaller retailers and crafters, but there is so much more that can be done. However, finding out the true provenance of your purchases, whether food, clothing, or household good, can be very tricky. Sure, it's easy for me to go to the farmer's market and get beef from a local farmer I see every month, but how do I find a pair of jeans that were sourced ethically? And if I can find those jeans, how do I know what a truly fair price for them would be? I have no idea, and no good way to figure it out - should it be double the price of the $75 jeans I'm wearing today? Triple? Should they then last twice as long? Without clear information on these sorts of topics, it's nearly impossible to make an informed decision on what to buy and how to buy it, and that combined with the wage stagnation rampant today means that most people just aren't able to even think about these choices let alone afford them.
There's a lot of good information in this book, and while I agree the introduction and buildup to current times was a little long it covers a lot of ground and I found it quite interesting. I'm definitely going to be thinking even more carefully about my purchases in the future, especially of the more durable goods like clothing and furniture, in hopes of finding quality and avoiding Cheap. I recommend everyone read this book - even if you don't have the ability to change everything you buy right away, even being aware of what the things you buy cost beyond the price tag is important.
The American-led obsession with "Cheap" has had a huge impact on the world, including economic, social, and environmental effects throughout the globe. What began as searching for a good deal with value has devolved into buying the cheapest thing possible, regardless of whether it will fulfill its nominal purpose. Bargains have not become "best value for the price" but rather "getting more for less," which is an unsustainable concept that is rapidly coming to a head as resources and labor markets around the world are finally reaching the breaking point.
The author covers several examples, from the beginnings of discount store culture (hello Woolworths) and the rise of discount stores and outlet malls through how technological breakthroughs have made once luxury items into cheap trashy commodities (shrimp). I've been thinking about what I purchase more and more over the past few years, tending to buy less from big box stores and more from smaller retailers and crafters, but there is so much more that can be done. However, finding out the true provenance of your purchases, whether food, clothing, or household good, can be very tricky. Sure, it's easy for me to go to the farmer's market and get beef from a local farmer I see every month, but how do I find a pair of jeans that were sourced ethically? And if I can find those jeans, how do I know what a truly fair price for them would be? I have no idea, and no good way to figure it out - should it be double the price of the $75 jeans I'm wearing today? Triple? Should they then last twice as long? Without clear information on these sorts of topics, it's nearly impossible to make an informed decision on what to buy and how to buy it, and that combined with the wage stagnation rampant today means that most people just aren't able to even think about these choices let alone afford them.
There's a lot of good information in this book, and while I agree the introduction and buildup to current times was a little long it covers a lot of ground and I found it quite interesting. I'm definitely going to be thinking even more carefully about my purchases in the future, especially of the more durable goods like clothing and furniture, in hopes of finding quality and avoiding Cheap. I recommend everyone read this book - even if you don't have the ability to change everything you buy right away, even being aware of what the things you buy cost beyond the price tag is important.