CHEAP

I haven’t read this yet, but I’ve already put it on my Amazon wish list. Written by Ellen Ruppel Shell, and reviewed by Leah McLaren of the Globe & Mail, Cheap: The High Cost Of Discount Culture sounds like a non fiction book worth reading.

What price as a culture do we pay for “cheap-goods”? I personally think we pay a very high price. I can understand why there is a need for low cost goods, not everyone can afford the best after all.

What I have the most problem with  is what happens to the goods priced in the middle. Not the most expensive (and most often substantially overpriced), but the stuff that is priced at a moderate level, that represents value and quality. Too often these goods are being squeezed out by mass retailers who’s only interest is providing their customers with the lowest cost (and often the poorest quality) products.

Perhaps the great equalizer will be the Internet. For many consumers, if you can’t find what you want at retail, usually a few clicks with your favorite search engine will reveal some hidden gems. It’s just too bad that our culture has forced the removal of real choice from the retail landscape.