Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by kktkti9 1776 days ago
These places exacerbate material waste and trivial spending.

Dollar objects get replaced much faster than better quality objects.

They’re manipulating that “new purchase” high similar to Facebook juicing us via likes.

3 comments

> They’re manipulating that “new purchase” high similar to Facebook juicing us via likes.

Very aptly put. I've been captive to their charm and can verify there is a certain dopamine thrill that quickly vanishes after the subpar goods are brought home and inspected.

These phantom brand dumps invariably smell of cheap plastic dust. That tragic scent fits the gloomy foreboding that such places bring, and should also ward off would-be entrants. It is a literal air of hopelessness. I miss real shops and solid kit.

What? Most of the items in the dollar store seem like consumables?
This is absolutely true but if you pay attention you can save money. Make a cheap lunch for work, gift bag for a birthday, quick emergency repair but just as much you see people spending 30 bucks on a bucket load of crap. Its really on the consumers shoulders to maximize the utility of their retail options. But that takes time and effort and all of us only have so much if any effort to give. I mean is it better to spend ten minutes to save a dollar or save ten minutes and spend an extra dollar?
TLDR: DG incentivizes laziness.