consumerism, or, an afternoon of retail therapy

Spent the afternoon at an outlet mall a couple of states over. (Yeah, in New England, such things are possible.)

I always suspect that these outlets are where mass-market chains sell poorly-made merchandise they are sorry they bought. True to theory, our trip started badly, at the "Corelle" store that used to carry open stock Revereware. Turns out they have abandoned the signature line of copper-bottom saucepans (copper must be rising on the world commodities market) and have some "new improved" line. In short, though: no open stock, and a store full of plastic dishware in cutsey patterns (that's the Corelle part) and cheap plastic gizmos that will break at the first use. More, the sales staff was snotty and superfluous.

I call my theory about this outlet stuff the Walmart Theory, because it's all about "Low Prices."
Here's the gig: if you can offer the customer a well-made, steel potato masher for $19.99 and a cheaply made, will-break-at-the-first-mashing masher for $10, the customer will invariably buy the $10 item. Your profit margin is substantially higher on the $10 item, because it is made in China of cheap plastic. If it breaks, no sweat. They are not gonna drive back to Maine to get a refund on a $10 item. And they are so entranced by the (relatively) inexpensive goods in your store that they WILL return, even if they keep buying cheap crap that doesn't last. So there is no point in stocking the $19.99 item.

I, on the other hand, although I am Yankee-cheap, am willing to pay more for tools (kitchen, yard, etc) because I do value quality and I want these things to last more or less forever. So we bought the $19.99 masher (at Villeroy and Boch) and expect to use it for the next 20 years or so.

Also at Villeroy and Boch: a sweet deviled egg holder (great gift!).

Then, the underthings. Every couple of years I grit my teeth and buy all new stuff. I'll spare you the details (google "bras suck" or "bras are evil" or "buying swimsuits" or any such phrases and you'll get lots of bloggers who write eloquently about the pure evil that is foisted by the corporate fashion industry upon women and their body image(s)), but suffice it to say, mission accomplished, and I even got some new sox in the bargain.

Dinner at an awesome, elegant yet casual restaurant, the Dockside Restaurant on York Harbor. I highly recommend it. Lobster cocktail: inspired! Elderly couples sucking down lots of wine and whooping it up! Fantastic!