I can't wait until shopping in stores IRL becomes the "new thing". I am biased because I work in brick and mortar retail at a store that takes pride in keeping our shelves stocked and orderly. We welcome every customer and treat them kindly and respectfully. People feel better after being in our store, even if they don't buy anything. Human interaction helps us to see what we have in common with others who may look very different from ourselves and being together in person, whatever you are doing, reinforces that. Also, it keeps you grounded in what you can and cannot afford. And if the store is well-run, it will make money. I hope that Gen Z learns to appreciate the value of this old-fashioned behavior.
Thank you Estra for reminding us of the importance of human contact. I often will find myself in the most interesting conversations with shop owners, store clerks and fellow customers. There are many other senses working while shopping in a brick and mortar. The softness of a sweater, the true scent of a candle or the heft and sturdiness of a new DYI tool. I find I also appreciate the spatial aspects of store displays since it helps me decide if I have the room for an item in my own home. Your comment makes me want to go out shopping today and thank traditional shop keepers like you for your efforts.
I shop brick and mortar at smaller, specialized shops where you can chat with the shopkeeper or where the hardware store employee knows exactly what you need to buy to fix whatever is wrong at home. I avoid Big Box stores because no one there knows what they're doing (try asking someone at Home Depot how to spackle a wall, for example), they're always pushing worthless expensive warranties, and often their return policies are worse than those of online retailers.
This is one of the reasons I don't use online grocery shopping. I often bring my 8-year-old daughter with me if our schedules happen to time out that way, so she can see what I am buying, how I make my decisions, she can help pick out things, see my interacting with the checkout person, etc. If we use the self checkout then she gets to scan things, spell out the fruits and veggies on the screen, etc (I don't love them but that's one positive!). The micro-interactions we have with people around us as we go out about our day are almost as important as the ones we have with the people we love.
Liz--it’s so good to hear that you do that with your daughter! I agree that there are a number of positive influences that can result from that basic errand.
I hope in-person shopping becomes a "thing" as well, however, stopping the theft is the first "thing" that has to take place in blue states. The progressive belief of 2020 that these folks are needy and forced to steal has been discredited but as long as arrests aren't made, online shopping will dominate.
Every product made requires materials to be mined, transported to a factory, assembled, transported elsewhere, finally transported to your house for delivery. Most of these products - that cookie sheet, that electric kettle - will end up in a landfill in about 5 years. The rampant consumerism that started in the 1950s (really around the beginning of the industrial revolution) allows us all to live like royalty by mortgaging future generations and the very planet itself. It seems like the real value here is that dopamine hit of referring friends, getting coupons, getting deals -- but in the end, does it really provide much value?
Of course we all have to shop -- modernity is defined by the things we possess. If you're going to bake cookies every week, it makes sense to have a cookie sheet. But I guarantee you, at least a few neighbors of yours will have one. You can go there, borrow it, bake your cookies, and when you return it, have a chance to share a cookie, have a cup of coffee/tea, chat, smile, and share a bit of love. This makes your local community a tiny bit better, and maybe giving some meaning and friendship to your day in a way that buying a cookie sheet made by a factory in India can never do.
This app sounds like a very addicting and seductive way to waste time, money, and the Earth's resources -- and to convince others to do so too. Not that I'm against taking a bit of money from Abu Dhabi oligarchs if that's really what this is, but rather it seems like a way to entice people to buy more useless *stuff* that will just end up in landfills and contribute to pollution. In particular, the phrasing "[T]his is a form of self-care. That I deserve this." is really concerning -- no, shopping is not self-care.
(sorry if this comes off as judgmental... I'm entering my Ted Kaczynski phase of life right now)
Even in the 50's my mother had her own cookie sheets. However she and our neighbors did other things like walk around the block inviting everyone who wanted to come to combover for coffee at 10 am as a break from their housework.
This sounds like Temu or Wish in that the quality of the products is likely very low and coming from China. I'm so suspicious of all online marketing now that I'm convinced everything being fed to me by the various algorithms is probably crap quality, made in China, and/or a total ripoff. I've never been so cynical about advertising in my life. So now when I see something that looks interesting or that I want, I have to spend 20 minutes digging into the company, finding out where they are located, who owns them, etc. I did score what I think is a very sweet little handmade piece of jewelry recently from a small business owner in Texas discovered via a Facebook ad, but it took a lot of digging to confirm that was actually the case.
Thanks to the internet and the plethora of scams and misleading ads, I now have extreme trust issues. So I'll be passing on Flip. Thanks for the warning. :)
A few months ago I had to report an ad for fraud almost every time I got on Facebook. They were pretending to be the very famous Clarks shoe brand. I saw a particular pair of shoes I wanted the first time I saw one of the ads, but the REAL Clarks website didn't have that style.
I’ve been looking for a specific very rare large caliber rifle - a Ruger Marlin 1895 sbl. Not for hunting but because I spend a lot of time in grizzly and mountain lion country and very few guns can stop a grizzly bear that’s charging you. And that means almost certain death. Every 4 out of 5 that I see for in-stock and lower priced are on very legit-looking scam sites.
Does the Flip site provide importing details? I will not buy from Amazon anything that I do not know country of origin, which is most of their consumer goods. Requiring importation info and manufacturing country is required on every product sold in Canada and yet Amazon.ca is not required to post this information...a lapse that I struggle to understand since they are retailers selling imported goods whether in brick and mortar or not. I'm sure the US has similar labelling laws and a similar Amazon.com issue.
Consumers can't make a choice without information, and I, for one, like to consciously know with whom I'm doing business and supporting with my purchases.
Seems to be the way of it. Sometimes there just isn’t a choice but to buy from China. I found a wok made in Taiwan though and I happily purchased that.
We are rapidly becoming a low-rent - yet very costly - version of various satirical dystopian models.
Flip reminds the author of QVC. It made me think of stuff hawked at county fairs, or the various brands that were pitched through house parties. (Do they still do that? It's been a while for me.) The faux-excitement. The social pressure. All very creepy.
“According to its site, Flip is for people whose “standards are serious,” as if it’s an advanced condition.“
Playing on the concept of aesthetics, it sells you the fantasy that this “magic pill” will improve their lives. Snake oil salespitches and carnival barkers for the 21st century. Good to know it hasn’t died; it just plays on our vanities in new, updated clothes.
Sell all my contacts, pictures, etc? Open kimono for all my friends? No way and I would be pretty angry if one of my friends did that and now Flip had my info.
This article remind me of my clients that struggle with gambling addiction. How Flip front loaded the reinforcement schedule is kind of brilliant actually. Tread carefully Suzzy, or Flip will get you.
I can't wait until shopping in stores IRL becomes the "new thing". I am biased because I work in brick and mortar retail at a store that takes pride in keeping our shelves stocked and orderly. We welcome every customer and treat them kindly and respectfully. People feel better after being in our store, even if they don't buy anything. Human interaction helps us to see what we have in common with others who may look very different from ourselves and being together in person, whatever you are doing, reinforces that. Also, it keeps you grounded in what you can and cannot afford. And if the store is well-run, it will make money. I hope that Gen Z learns to appreciate the value of this old-fashioned behavior.
And you can actually see what you are buying.
And maybe even more critical--you can touch what you are buying 😊
Thank you Estra for reminding us of the importance of human contact. I often will find myself in the most interesting conversations with shop owners, store clerks and fellow customers. There are many other senses working while shopping in a brick and mortar. The softness of a sweater, the true scent of a candle or the heft and sturdiness of a new DYI tool. I find I also appreciate the spatial aspects of store displays since it helps me decide if I have the room for an item in my own home. Your comment makes me want to go out shopping today and thank traditional shop keepers like you for your efforts.
Love this comment
I shop brick and mortar at smaller, specialized shops where you can chat with the shopkeeper or where the hardware store employee knows exactly what you need to buy to fix whatever is wrong at home. I avoid Big Box stores because no one there knows what they're doing (try asking someone at Home Depot how to spackle a wall, for example), they're always pushing worthless expensive warranties, and often their return policies are worse than those of online retailers.
Or try finding anyone in Home Depot!!!
I agree and I try to do the same. Fortunately where I live, there are still a number of shops like that!
This is one of the reasons I don't use online grocery shopping. I often bring my 8-year-old daughter with me if our schedules happen to time out that way, so she can see what I am buying, how I make my decisions, she can help pick out things, see my interacting with the checkout person, etc. If we use the self checkout then she gets to scan things, spell out the fruits and veggies on the screen, etc (I don't love them but that's one positive!). The micro-interactions we have with people around us as we go out about our day are almost as important as the ones we have with the people we love.
Liz--it’s so good to hear that you do that with your daughter! I agree that there are a number of positive influences that can result from that basic errand.
I hope in-person shopping becomes a "thing" as well, however, stopping the theft is the first "thing" that has to take place in blue states. The progressive belief of 2020 that these folks are needy and forced to steal has been discredited but as long as arrests aren't made, online shopping will dominate.
Every product made requires materials to be mined, transported to a factory, assembled, transported elsewhere, finally transported to your house for delivery. Most of these products - that cookie sheet, that electric kettle - will end up in a landfill in about 5 years. The rampant consumerism that started in the 1950s (really around the beginning of the industrial revolution) allows us all to live like royalty by mortgaging future generations and the very planet itself. It seems like the real value here is that dopamine hit of referring friends, getting coupons, getting deals -- but in the end, does it really provide much value?
Of course we all have to shop -- modernity is defined by the things we possess. If you're going to bake cookies every week, it makes sense to have a cookie sheet. But I guarantee you, at least a few neighbors of yours will have one. You can go there, borrow it, bake your cookies, and when you return it, have a chance to share a cookie, have a cup of coffee/tea, chat, smile, and share a bit of love. This makes your local community a tiny bit better, and maybe giving some meaning and friendship to your day in a way that buying a cookie sheet made by a factory in India can never do.
This app sounds like a very addicting and seductive way to waste time, money, and the Earth's resources -- and to convince others to do so too. Not that I'm against taking a bit of money from Abu Dhabi oligarchs if that's really what this is, but rather it seems like a way to entice people to buy more useless *stuff* that will just end up in landfills and contribute to pollution. In particular, the phrasing "[T]his is a form of self-care. That I deserve this." is really concerning -- no, shopping is not self-care.
(sorry if this comes off as judgmental... I'm entering my Ted Kaczynski phase of life right now)
Even in the 50's my mother had her own cookie sheets. However she and our neighbors did other things like walk around the block inviting everyone who wanted to come to combover for coffee at 10 am as a break from their housework.
Lololol “combover”!!!!!!!
Sorry, come over!
Lol. I loved it hahaha
This sounds like Temu or Wish in that the quality of the products is likely very low and coming from China. I'm so suspicious of all online marketing now that I'm convinced everything being fed to me by the various algorithms is probably crap quality, made in China, and/or a total ripoff. I've never been so cynical about advertising in my life. So now when I see something that looks interesting or that I want, I have to spend 20 minutes digging into the company, finding out where they are located, who owns them, etc. I did score what I think is a very sweet little handmade piece of jewelry recently from a small business owner in Texas discovered via a Facebook ad, but it took a lot of digging to confirm that was actually the case.
Thanks to the internet and the plethora of scams and misleading ads, I now have extreme trust issues. So I'll be passing on Flip. Thanks for the warning. :)
A few months ago I had to report an ad for fraud almost every time I got on Facebook. They were pretending to be the very famous Clarks shoe brand. I saw a particular pair of shoes I wanted the first time I saw one of the ads, but the REAL Clarks website didn't have that style.
I’ve been looking for a specific very rare large caliber rifle - a Ruger Marlin 1895 sbl. Not for hunting but because I spend a lot of time in grizzly and mountain lion country and very few guns can stop a grizzly bear that’s charging you. And that means almost certain death. Every 4 out of 5 that I see for in-stock and lower priced are on very legit-looking scam sites.
Thx for the heads up, definitely interesting article and an invite I won’t be accepting 😊
Anything that's "like TikTok" is something humans should avoid.
Does the Flip site provide importing details? I will not buy from Amazon anything that I do not know country of origin, which is most of their consumer goods. Requiring importation info and manufacturing country is required on every product sold in Canada and yet Amazon.ca is not required to post this information...a lapse that I struggle to understand since they are retailers selling imported goods whether in brick and mortar or not. I'm sure the US has similar labelling laws and a similar Amazon.com issue.
Consumers can't make a choice without information, and I, for one, like to consciously know with whom I'm doing business and supporting with my purchases.
You should probably assume that 99% of everything you buy online is made in China -- even American brands!
Seems to be the way of it. Sometimes there just isn’t a choice but to buy from China. I found a wok made in Taiwan though and I happily purchased that.
We are rapidly becoming a low-rent - yet very costly - version of various satirical dystopian models.
Flip reminds the author of QVC. It made me think of stuff hawked at county fairs, or the various brands that were pitched through house parties. (Do they still do that? It's been a while for me.) The faux-excitement. The social pressure. All very creepy.
Techno-feudalism.
“According to its site, Flip is for people whose “standards are serious,” as if it’s an advanced condition.“
Playing on the concept of aesthetics, it sells you the fantasy that this “magic pill” will improve their lives. Snake oil salespitches and carnival barkers for the 21st century. Good to know it hasn’t died; it just plays on our vanities in new, updated clothes.
Seems like an awful lot of work!
What sort of person, does the adage say, is "... born every minute"?
Once again Suzy delivers 👏👏👏
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Thanks for delivering the content I didn’t know I needed.
Nice writing, made me chuckle out loud several times.
Wow - this sounds awful... So. Much. Stuff. It feels like a hoarder's fever dream.
Sell all my contacts, pictures, etc? Open kimono for all my friends? No way and I would be pretty angry if one of my friends did that and now Flip had my info.
This article remind me of my clients that struggle with gambling addiction. How Flip front loaded the reinforcement schedule is kind of brilliant actually. Tread carefully Suzzy, or Flip will get you.
I will "flip off" anyone who invites me to join Flip