6 ms·

> Milk should not be a commodity neither should food, water, or shelter but here we are

maxerickson 6y ago
Commodity literally means cheap and of consistent quality. All of those things should be commodities, even if we choose to pay for them as a society rather than organizing the flow of goods using markets. Put simply, if you are willing to buy it without sampling it, you think it's a commodity.
- reedjosh 6y ago
  I think you mean if you are willing to buy it regularly without sampling. We bought a few brands prior to our current buying pattern. I am not willing to buy milk without sampling. Currently we have two that we like. Basically, one has extra fat added, but the other comes in a reusable (literally return for reuse) glass bottle. If only I could get both.
  - maxerickson 6y ago
    Yes, I mean willingness to grab a container off the shelf and buy it without sampling, not the process of establishing preferences.
    - reedjosh 6y ago
      Cool. Then yes, I don't view milk as fitting the definition above though I realize many do.
      - maxerickson 6y ago
        Do you check which farm it is from and give it a sniff? Or do you put it in the cart and pay for it? "Cheap" was an overstatement, but in general, modern industrial methods lead to consistent quality and downward price trajectories.
        reedjosh 6y ago
        > Do you check which farm it is from and give it a sniff. As I mentioned previously..sampling to me means buying a few brands before establishing a preference. So, in a way yes. And since you're so incredulous, yes, I have two preferred farms. Alexander and Fresh Breeze.
        maxerickson 6y ago
        I'm not incredulous, I have no doubt that someone might have specific preferences for milk. I'm arguing that 'commodity' isn't a bad word, because it means 'consistent' and similar, not 'low quality', as your up thread comment implies. If you don't investigate every package, you are taking commoditization for granted, there's trust that it will be what it is supposed to be. That's it's done at the level of the individual farm is all the better, they are able to deliver commercial volumes to Whole Foods with consistent (predictable) quality.
      - imtringued 6y ago
        Even high quality milk is a commodity although a niche commodity. Think of it this way. There is an art piece that is being produced millions of times and people even buy it multiple times. It's a commodity because it's consistent. It's always the same. If every art work was different then it wouldn't be a commodity. The same applies to specific brands. They are a niche commodity. Each pack of milk is identical. The amount of milk you buy is the same in each pack (within tolerances of course). You don't care which cow ended up producing the milk. If each pack of milk was labeled with the cow it came from and each pack had a different quantity of milk it wouldn't be a commodity.
  - thaumasiotes 6y ago
    > Basically, one has extra fat added, but the other comes in a reusable (literally return for reuse) glass bottle. If only I could get both. Presumably you can get half-and-half in glass bottles, if you really want?
    - reedjosh 6y ago
      Indeed you can. We also purchase heavy cream in glass for our coffee.
chordalkeyboard 6y ago
Commodification is just a word that describes things of value being available at a standard price and quality.

Commodity literally means cheap and of consistent quality. All of those things should be commodities, even if we choose to pay for them as a society rather than organizing the flow of goods using markets. Put simply, if you are willing to buy it without sampling it, you think it's a commodity.

reedjosh 6y ago
I think you mean if you are willing to buy it regularly without sampling. We bought a few brands prior to our current buying pattern. I am not willing to buy milk without sampling. Currently we have two that we like. Basically, one has extra fat added, but the other comes in a reusable (literally return for reuse) glass bottle. If only I could get both.
- maxerickson 6y ago
  Yes, I mean willingness to grab a container off the shelf and buy it without sampling, not the process of establishing preferences.
  - reedjosh 6y ago
    Cool. Then yes, I don't view milk as fitting the definition above though I realize many do.
    - maxerickson 6y ago
      Do you check which farm it is from and give it a sniff? Or do you put it in the cart and pay for it? "Cheap" was an overstatement, but in general, modern industrial methods lead to consistent quality and downward price trajectories.
      - reedjosh 6y ago
        > Do you check which farm it is from and give it a sniff. As I mentioned previously..sampling to me means buying a few brands before establishing a preference. So, in a way yes. And since you're so incredulous, yes, I have two preferred farms. Alexander and Fresh Breeze.
        maxerickson 6y ago
        I'm not incredulous, I have no doubt that someone might have specific preferences for milk. I'm arguing that 'commodity' isn't a bad word, because it means 'consistent' and similar, not 'low quality', as your up thread comment implies. If you don't investigate every package, you are taking commoditization for granted, there's trust that it will be what it is supposed to be. That's it's done at the level of the individual farm is all the better, they are able to deliver commercial volumes to Whole Foods with consistent (predictable) quality.
    - imtringued 6y ago
      Even high quality milk is a commodity although a niche commodity. Think of it this way. There is an art piece that is being produced millions of times and people even buy it multiple times. It's a commodity because it's consistent. It's always the same. If every art work was different then it wouldn't be a commodity. The same applies to specific brands. They are a niche commodity. Each pack of milk is identical. The amount of milk you buy is the same in each pack (within tolerances of course). You don't care which cow ended up producing the milk. If each pack of milk was labeled with the cow it came from and each pack had a different quantity of milk it wouldn't be a commodity.
- thaumasiotes 6y ago
  > Basically, one has extra fat added, but the other comes in a reusable (literally return for reuse) glass bottle. If only I could get both. Presumably you can get half-and-half in glass bottles, if you really want?
  - reedjosh 6y ago
    Indeed you can. We also purchase heavy cream in glass for our coffee.

chordalkeyboard 6y ago

Commodification is just a word that describes things of value being available at a standard price and quality.