Help me understand what is going on in the world?

[DreamCrescent]

i know it’s first world problems but it doesn’t make sense. I had to pay $20 per watch to get batteries replaced. For $80 plus tax i could’ve gotten at least 3 new watches of the same quality. I haven’t taken my dry-clean-only coat to get cleaned because that costs at least $40 and it’s just a normal run of coat not a fancy one. Instead i bought a new coat online for $25 because it’s still chilly in the mornings and my coat isn’t clean enough to wear

It can’t be normal that buying a new thing costs you less than maintaining the one you have

The most rotten intersection between consumerism and inflation. And I’m in the Bay Area, CA for some reason i feel like it’s worse than anywhere out here. Maybe SoCal, too?

Sounded more like a rant but I’m curious about your experiences

[NathanDavis]

I think... Marylin Manson summed it up quite well... almost 30 years ago

"capitalism has made it this way"

we worship Capitalism as the freedom we think we have... but we also fell prey to consumerism, which is what we have today

conglomerates and monopolies control every key aspect of both, production and consumption and you are left with no choice but to spend more, more, more on cheap... or to spend paying a whole lot more on almost good, not even that good anymore

and you don't buy things to last anymore either... and very soon, you won't even own what you purchase either... just wait till your every electronic and device is a monthly-paid-subscription model that can be shutdown remotely... if you don't, lol

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

paid subscription model, good catch !

[DreamCrescent]

indeed

[NathanDavis]

we're already there... Teslas, Nest Cameras, Spotify gadgets, speakers, printers... John Deer

USA fighter jets... kitchens in US warships... lmao

[Shiprex]

You're right. Things are now made for profit and replacement, not to be easily taken care of.

[Shiprex]

@DreamCrescent thanks for the MHO

[Master_Debator]

Yeah... shit's fucked. I mean I used to get my watch battery changed and cleaned for free, but I knew the chick at the kiosk and she would sell my marijana for me (way back when it was illegal and still worth something). Eventually I could just to it myself by watching. I even know what a CR2032 battery is now.

I've watched the price of any and every little thing go up. You either learn to do it yourself or you pay and that wasn't a big deal back in the day to pay, but now you'll pay the equivlent of a tank of gas and that went up too. Basically you'll pay out the ass just to be lazy and not do it yourself.

Like, you know hookers was like $30 when I was a teen for full on sex. Now... pisses me off man. I can't even buy a jerk off session with a girl for that much now... I'll just jerk myself off to that free porn the internet provides for a hefty price.

The old ways are being systematically destroyed. They want us all alone and jerking off in our bathroom to save money.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

"I had to pay $20 per watch to get batteries replaced. For $80 plus tax i could’ve gotten at least 3 new watches"

My guess is that people don't buy enough batteries, they favour new watches instead, so the manufacturing cost of batteries doesn't decrease?

"I haven’t taken my coat to get cleaned because that costs $40, Instead i bought a new coat online for $25"

My guess is that the people cleaning your coat are living in the US, whereas the people manufacturing the new coat are living in a much poorer country, so they "ask" for way less dollars to get you that coat.

[DreamCrescent]

i don’t think it’s the cost of the battery so much as the service. service industry in general a little out of control with inflation.

and the question was rhetorical. those were just examples

[goaded]

Capitalism.

Particularly the fact that the WTO didn't insist on decent wages (relative to others in their country) when it pushed to open up international trade.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It’s inflation. War makes money, but not for the people.

[jahaims]

Rich people with the influence are screwing over everyone they can for more money. Same thing as always.

[Masumgunahkar]

Rents taxes and worker wages are very highif you don't have the skill to do the repairUnfortunately, you pay high prices for all kinds of repairs.

[Dargil]

People want to earn a living and buy stuff.

[bowenw]

It seems to be completely out of control.

[eagle1951]

nothing good i can see