Cheap: The High Cost Of Discount Culture (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
This book examines the history & reasons behind the movement away from quality toward price in the Western world (mostly the USA, but some UK & Canada references) - ie. changing the meaning of the word value.Globalization is discussed in a very clear manner, and there are solutions/improvements to the current situation suggested, so you don't feel completely awful by the end of the book.Lots of reference notes, citations and recommended reading at the end, but they aren't necessary to understand the author's point. This should be required reading for, well, everyone. Even if it doesn't convince readers to change their shopping habits (and, frankly, not many answers to the numerous problems are available or at least clear and workable at the moment), it brings awareness of the consequences of discount culture to consciousness. One thing I'd be curious about is how Internet shopping has changed anything: Do online platforms make the marketplace more accessible to small and/or specialized shops (i.e., those not influenced by the Walmarts of the world)? I'm not going to say that I don't love a bargain, but I admit that some sneaking suspicions I've had have been confirmed.
What do You think about Cheap: The High Cost Of Discount Culture (2009)?
it's more than a marketing lesson. we see the pros and cons of discount culture and its influence.
—kelly
