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Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

theguardian.com

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Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#161

Post by sershe »

OptionOfT wrote: post #158
sershe wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always wondered how my coworkers in tech (imply to) spent so much money (even without kids) and then I hear things like "you can't buy a car for less than 50k these days" or read these posts. Then you test drive a 20k used car and the only thing that is more than 10% worse about it about it is how quickly your ego goes 0 to 60 :) A good couch costs around 1k and I'm pretty sure based on extensive experience the $20…

I'm not gonna argue the car thing. I like cars, so when I spend money on them there is emotion involved, and all logic goes out the door. But for the couch, is it unreasonable to want a couch in which I can replace the foam? For not wanting a throw away product?

How often do you need to replace foam? Our 10 years + 2 moves old couch (that cost iirc $700-800 then) is basically good as new. I guess we don't have kids or dogs, the worst thing that happened to it is a gerbil briefly finding a way into the hollows :)

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#162

Post by BrenBarn »

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #125
janalsncm wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chat control is not relevant to consumer protection, which is what the article is about. Of course, Americans also have much worse privacy rights than Europeans do, Chat Control notwithstanding. GDPR gives Europeans the right to delete their personal data. In the US, data brokers routinely launder highly personal information about Americans and nothing is done. Good luck figuring out how to delete that.

> Chat control is not relevant to consumer protection It's relevant to demonstrating a failed government, however. > Of course, Americans also have much worse privacy rights than Europeans do, Chat Control notwithstanding. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? > Europeans the right to delete their personal data. In the US, data brokers routinely launder highly personal information about Americans and nothi…

> Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

I think this is pretty grossly overstating things. Yes, chat control is bad, but there's little doubt in my mind that EU regulations overall have been better for consumers than the situation in the US.

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#163

Post by eudamoniac »

mancerayder wrote: post #152
hermannj314 wrote: post #44

I think it is a wonderful time to start a business. Owner-run businesses tend to have great customer service. As consumers, we have some choice to give our attention to businesses where the people doing the work are the ones that own the company, if they aren't, then give your money to someone else. Stop supporting businesses that pay their taxes to Ireland. This isn't a perfect solution and I know there are counter-…

Starting a business, but that requires financial independence, right? If not, what do you do in your 40's with no healthcare? Or the state marketplace healthcare that is basically 'catrastrophe only', with no out of network support, and still costs over 800 a month? Do you rent, or do you own, and if you own, how about the property taxes. Starting a business in 2026 is for the Made Men of tech, who've sold monstrous…

> Starting a business, but that requires financial independence, right?

What are you even talking about. How many of your local restaurants, coffee shops, laundromats, roofing companies, landscape consultants, shoe repair shops etc do you think are owned by anyone with financial independence?

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#164

Post by monksy »

senordevnyc wrote: post #156
monksy wrote: post #101

I mean that's super easy. Go to a restaurant. Oh you better tip 20-30-50% (Because thats how they hide the bill, and put the lowest value on there). Bad service? YOU MONSTER YOU TIPPED 15% (15% is standard, and on top of higher prices- that is more money.. service+restaurant owners basically forced a 5%+ pay raise for no value). On top of that.. oh no menus.. get your own device so you can order from us. Walk into a…

It gets easier if you stop worrying so much about what these strangers think. Tip 15%, let the receipt checker roll their eyes when you walk past, let them judge you on your self-checkout speed, etc. Who cares?

Oh I agree with you. However, the stress does add up, and the businesses escalate to get worse.

I.e. costco introduces self checkout, don't use it, then they start putting people to pester you to use it/try to check your card before you get to where you need (because non-members use self checkout), then they introduce door checking of membership.. all of this is over their desire to reduce staff in the store and force self checkout.

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#165

Post by OptionOfT »

sershe wrote: post #161
OptionOfT wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not gonna argue the car thing. I like cars, so when I spend money on them there is emotion involved, and all logic goes out the door. But for the couch, is it unreasonable to want a couch in which I can replace the foam? For not wanting a throw away product?

How often do you need to replace foam? Our 10 years + 2 moves old couch (that cost iirc $700-800 then) is basically good as new. I guess we don't have kids or dogs, the worst thing that happened to it is a gerbil briefly finding a way into the hollows :)

My couch is 2 years old and all the pillows collapsed.

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#166

Post by monksy »

OptionOfT wrote: post #142
expectsomuch wrote: post #55

All of the notes regarding the degraded quality and customer support / experience for products and services is true. But the additional factor is that so many of us are pushed to the brink now, in terms of affordability and costs of goods and services. If you're making good money and you order a sub-par product, it's definitely a frustration, but it's not the end of the world. But now, for so many, there is less marg…

To add to this, I think that spending more money these days helps a lot less. Higher prices these days mean more features, but not necessarily higher quality. Everything is a subscription, can only be controlled by their app, and is mass-produced in a factory in China, brought here and then sold with a story plus a huge markup. A less connected example: You want to buy a new couch. Budget: $2k. You get: * bad constru…

You pay 2-4k.. what do you get? Excuses, breakages delays, poor communication etc. That's lazy boy.

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#167

Post by eudamoniac »

mancerayder wrote: post #155
cadamsdotcom wrote: post #12

This article reads like rage bait and it's about rage bait. Reading this then taking to the comments to kvetch about your personal suffering is learned helplessness writ large. There are so many beautiful parks. There are so many experiences to be had away from sources of rage & frustration. But you won't find it from a publication that depends on your rage addiction.

The parks are a lot more beautiful in Paris and London than in the U.S. cities like New York or Philadelphia or whatever. On the East Coast at least, parks are for loud people to play music, they're full of litter, dogs running around, and a general American distaste for peace and beauty and quiet contemplation. We Americans love function, profit and socializing more than we value beauty. We Americans loathe quiet, c…

"'American' distaste" is not the demographic I would have inserted there when describing the problems in parks...

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#168

Post by oxag3n »

invalidptr wrote: post #139
hermannj314 wrote: post #44

I think it is a wonderful time to start a business. Owner-run businesses tend to have great customer service. As consumers, we have some choice to give our attention to businesses where the people doing the work are the ones that own the company, if they aren't, then give your money to someone else. Stop supporting businesses that pay their taxes to Ireland. This isn't a perfect solution and I know there are counter-…

This doesn't apply to small residential contractors. I've had nothing but bad experiences hiring contractors. They rarely do the work themselves and instead hire subcontractors who don't understand the requirements and care very little about the outcome. I've had better experiences with companies who are large enough to care about their reputation, or contractors i know personally.

I wish I knew that one month ago. Hired a small local company to fix something in my house, great reviews in yelp/facebook/google, license+insurance. The guy came for the estimate and everything felt smooth. Two other guys came for the actual job, no company, no license, I couldn't even communicate with them until I opened voice translator. They did a terrible job and made the situation worse than before.

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#169

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

Eddy_Viscosity2 wrote: post #126
expectsomuch wrote: post #55

All of the notes regarding the degraded quality and customer support / experience for products and services is true. But the additional factor is that so many of us are pushed to the brink now, in terms of affordability and costs of goods and services. If you're making good money and you order a sub-par product, it's definitely a frustration, but it's not the end of the world. But now, for so many, there is less marg…

Yes, when the budget is tight and the washing machine you got just two years ago has a major breakage (just outside the warranty period), the cost of fixing it or getting a new one become pretty close. Couple that with the fact that the washer you replaced it with worked fine for 30 years before it broke and I think the anger is very rightly justified.

Completely off topic and no one will see this, but in 2017 I bought a new speedqueen washer and drier. No “new” features just does its job.

God damn one of the best purchases I’ve made for a house. There is a market for “dumb products” that aren’t stupid.

Re: Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices

#170

Post by geoka9 »

mancerayder wrote: post #150
Oanid wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I paid $2,200 for a couch that's made in Canada from solid wood. Not sure I can agree with you. https://www.urbanbarn.com/en/product/sibley-sofa-chaise-SIBL...

You lost us after "Canada." I have zero doubt things like furniture and clothing are going to be superior if made in Canada than the U.S. or China. I checked your link and there are no stores in the U.S. (or their zip code search doesn't work).

Natuzzi (an Italian brand) has its "Editions" line that's cheaper because it's made in China. From my experience, the quality is good.

Also, brands like CB2 and Crate & Barrel are American and popular in Canada - especially CB2 because of its good designs and quality at cheaper prices (which are even cheaper in the US).

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