brip blap - Latest Comments in 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

Zopito DiGiovanni — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:23:57 -0000

I agree with almost everything you have said. I try to follow the same types of rules in my life, to the point of having accusations of being "cheap" thrown at me. I don't mind though. I tell people that I am the anti-consumer.

It is easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that material things you do not currently have will somehow make life better or more enjoyable. When it really comes down to it, it's not all the "stuff" that makes life worthwhile or worth living. It is the experiences and the relationships that we have. I think people chasing after all the stuff are totally missing the point and I don't know any that feel truly fulfilled by these things anyway!

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

Melissa — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:31:39 -0000

I think there are LOTS of alternatives to overpackaging, regardless of the motives of those making the sales. Although I too hesitate to demonize corporations from trying to sell more stuff, I do think that packaging is designed primarily to encourage consumption. If a store's primary concern was deterring shoplifting, why not keep the items behind a case and just have one sample that's tied to the shelf for everyone to look at (like they do with the cameras in best buy?)

Jim, I recently wrote a post on de-cluttering that you may want to check out. Hope you find it helpful.

I've also used the first point on affordability to develop a metric of my own to examine the other aspects of consuming that I find important; it's on my blog as well.

This was one of the best posts on "buying less" that I've seen. Nice work.

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

Jim — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:42:31 -0000

I like your blog and esp. your comments on stuff. We all have too much - anyone who is reading this, anyway - and need to learn to get rid of it. Any suggestions?

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

James N — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:38:51 -0000

I'm sure the manufacturer and store owners' motives are hardly pure as the driven snow, but we should probably avoid overly demonizing them. I suspect, for instance, that one of the reasons packaging for expensive items tends to have a minimum size and a certain awkwardness to it is to deter shoplifting. If that's the case, then instead of throwing trash on the store floors, we ought to stop stealing (collectively). Secondly, if you don't like large packaging, then buy items with smaller packaging when there's any choice, even if it's inconvenient (if it's that important to you). Also, someone mentioned in an earlier comment that the packaging doesn't tend to weigh much, and this is because there really isn't THAT much material in something like a USB drive package -- it's very thin and long. It could be much worse. Granted, if scarcity of petroleum scares you, that might still be worrisome, in which case an alternative would have to be come up with that is reasonably thief-unfriendly, that transports well and protects its contents, and that people will buy (which includes it not costing too much)

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

Jennifer — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:21:42 -0000

Great post! Thank you!

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

sfordinarygirl — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:23:41 -0000

That's exactly why I didn't buy an ipod or an mp3 player. Sure I could use the ipod to help me concentrate on something while I'm running or exercise but I like listening to the noise of a city - cars honking, the sound of immigrant chatter and the neighborhood kids talking loudly or laughing. And I find a plain-old tape recorder or just typing the notes of someone I'm interviewing works just fine. No need for a fancy recorder - sometimes plain and simple works. My sister bugged me for years about getting one and I almost caved in but cancelled my order on Amazon.com right after I made the purchase. I've never regretted that choice.

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

bripblap — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 21:50:10 -0000

I think it's all about the marketing, actually. In my grocery store, for example, the name brand cereal comes in a box and the generic just comes in a plastic bag. Both have the same net weight of cereal, but the name brand one has a half-empty box around it, for no reason I can imagine other than to advertise their brand. A USB flash card looks pretty puny on its own, after all - you need to add flashy packaging. It's all junk. One of these days I will grit my teeth and just take something out of the box there in the store and give it to the check-out cashier to dispose of.

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

FourPillars — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:26:04 -0000

I like your thought about packaging, we've gotten a few items delivered recently and it's unbelievable how much packaging there was. I guess delivery is charge by weight - not by volume of the box.

Mike

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

bripblap — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:43:34 -0000

MG - thanks so much, and I'll definitely check your blog out, and I encourage anyone checking out comments to do the same!

Re: 7 things to consider before you buy stuff

moneygardener — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:48:35 -0000

Another good post.
I really like your blog. I am going to add you to my blogroll on my site. I hope you can take the time to check my blog out.
...MG