seldomly. i mostly buy supermarket store stuff when i “go out to eat”. i sit down with a nice pre-packaged coffee for example. is cheaper than going to a coffee shop.
In theory, yes, I agree. But make sure you properly value yourself! You only have so much time to give.
Though, that was also said about digital games instead of physical ones, that the savings get passed onto the consumer. Not a 1:1 but that one is going swimmingly right now 😅
In theory, yes, I agree. But make sure you properly value yourself! You only have so much time to give.
My dude, if you can’t assemble the shelf just go pay more for one that is built. No one needs to run around computing their implicit value for such a simple task.
Not really. Their business model is, let’s have the customers do the work then we can charge them less cause we’re not paying workers. Just a heads up, that’s what shadow work is.
Is the business model not attempting to offer a lower cost product by having less employees and having the customer do more labor and use their time? On a macro level, those were jobs, people’s livelihoods. Now they’re self checkout areas with cameras, soon to be AI. On an economic level, to make more money, does it not make sense to continually increase the price while providing a “lesser” (read as, lower employee time to sale) product/service?
Is that a good thing? It’s an honest question. What is the logical endpoint if consumers aren’t able to consume given that less and less work (aka trading your time/labor for currency) is available?
As the saying goes, time is money. And that’s part of the poverty trap. Sure, it’s cheaper to spend more of your time. But when you’re already poor, you need that time because it’s better spent working to survive. Paradoxically, the more money you have, the more time you have to spend planning, assembling, driving, etc to save money.
Work that grocers have passed onto their customers that they used to do themselves:
i mean i wouldn’t want another employee touching every single food item. this is also a hygiene issue.
How do you think your produce ends up in the bin in the produce section?
Do you not ever go out to eat?
seldomly. i mostly buy supermarket store stuff when i “go out to eat”. i sit down with a nice pre-packaged coffee for example. is cheaper than going to a coffee shop.
Good ol shadow work.
Ikea is the greatest.
All of those used to be paid work, some even being part of the “white glove” service. Instead, we pay with our time, a finite resource.
My dude here opening a Heathkit and being like “why the fuck did I pay less to have to assemble everything?!”
You’re missing the entire concept of what shadow work is. And why it’s being pushed further and further.
I use ikea myself. I DIY’d my grid tied solar system, battery and all. I’ve no problem performing the labor. That’s not the point here.
When is comes to Ikea, what you pay in time is taken off the price, according to my experience
That’s their literal business model.
Same with Aldi. And you better bring your quarter and own bags.
In theory, yes, I agree. But make sure you properly value yourself! You only have so much time to give.
Though, that was also said about digital games instead of physical ones, that the savings get passed onto the consumer. Not a 1:1 but that one is going swimmingly right now 😅
My dude, if you can’t assemble the shelf just go pay more for one that is built. No one needs to run around computing their implicit value for such a simple task.
You’re missing the entire concept of what shadow work is. And why it’s being pushed further and further.
I use ikea myself. I DIY’d my grid tied solar system, battery and all. I’ve no problem performing the labor. That’s not the point here.
You’re missing the entire concept of IKEA’s business model.
Not really. Their business model is, let’s have the customers do the work then we can charge them less cause we’re not paying workers. Just a heads up, that’s what shadow work is.
Is the business model not attempting to offer a lower cost product by having less employees and having the customer do more labor and use their time? On a macro level, those were jobs, people’s livelihoods. Now they’re self checkout areas with cameras, soon to be AI. On an economic level, to make more money, does it not make sense to continually increase the price while providing a “lesser” (read as, lower employee time to sale) product/service?
Is that a good thing? It’s an honest question. What is the logical endpoint if consumers aren’t able to consume given that less and less work (aka trading your time/labor for currency) is available?
As the saying goes, time is money. And that’s part of the poverty trap. Sure, it’s cheaper to spend more of your time. But when you’re already poor, you need that time because it’s better spent working to survive. Paradoxically, the more money you have, the more time you have to spend planning, assembling, driving, etc to save money.
The paradox of plenty.
You are basically explaining to me how I spend my time to save money. My answer? Yup.
At least it’s good exercise