04/12/2024
Hear, hear!
We all love a deal, right? There’s no denying that it feels great to know you saved money on something. But as we move into full holiday shopping mode, we wanted to talk a little about the real cost of cheap pricing.
When we shop at big box retailers or huge online companies that rhyme with gamazon, those cheap prices come at a heavy cost we don’t always think about or see.
Like the effect it’s had on small local businesses across the country who cannot compete with 60+% off sale pricing. These big companies are willing to lose money in the short term because they know if they eliminate the competition, they create monopolies and can set the pricing how they choose after that. We saw this during the pandemic.
It also comes at the cost to the labor involved with these companies. From the slave-like conditions that many of the makers of these products face in foreign countries, to the low wages and poor work conditions that many of their employees selling the products here stateside face. If the employees at so many of these stores seem miserable, it’s because it’s a reflection of their treatment at work and how it affects their living conditions outside of work.
Those cheaper prices and free shipping offers come at a huge cost to our environment as well. From the poisonous and largely unregulated materials used to make things cheaper, to the energy needed for overseas transport of goods, to the crazy amount of extra delivery trucks on the road, and the endless amount of plastics used to package it all. It’s all wreaking havoc on our planet.
To be clear, this is not a post to pass judgement or make you feel singled out. We ALL buy things that fall into these categories to some degree. It’s near impossible not to in the world we live in, but maybe we can change that?
We know that not everyone has the means to shop locally and pay the REAL prices that things cost. These subsidized prices are the only option for some folks, but that's not the case for all of us.
We also understand that some of these big box stores can act as escapes or happy places for people who are overwhelmed by the many struggles of life. We get it!
But it’s important to know what the trade offs are. And if you’re not okay with them, maybe that happy place could be a local coffee shop, or gift shop, or yes, a farmers market.
Maybe if you’re in seek of the thrill of a deal, you head to a local thrift store to see what steal you can find for pennies on the dollar. There’s some incredible treasure hidden in there! And you’re reducing waste at the same time.
We know this is a hard sell for most of you. But if you’ve made it this far into the post, then maybe there’s a chance you might just adjust one small decision this holiday. Perhaps you’ll buy meat raised in a humane way by a local farmer for your holiday meal. Or maybe a present for a family member that was made by a local craftsperson. It’s not gonna solve the problem, but it’s a step in the right direction. And even a 1 degree change in direction can change the course of our future over time.
So if you can, shop local this holiday season. Even if it can’t be for everything, something still makes a difference.
