3 ms·

They have a captive audience (bored passengers in airlines) and the shiny things they sell appeal to consumers with no self-restraint. The value they provide is

They have a captive audience (bored passengers in airlines) and the shiny things they sell appeal to consumers with no self-restraint. The value they provide is nearly zero. They exist and make money due to a complete lack of competition and an endless stream of idiots. I say good riddance.

larrys 13y ago
"shiny things they sell appeal to consumers with no self-restraint." Where are you drawing this conclusion from? Perhaps there are people who like to spend money and buy things because it gives them a rush and makes them feel good. Same as people will spend money on other feel good things (like a ball game or a concert, a movie or a play or play an online game). What exactly is wrong with buying "shiny things"? And they don't lack competition as many of the things in the catalog can be located elsewhere. After all you still need to order and have it shipped to you. Look stores in the terminal have a business model that depends on a captive audience as well and the pricing for many items is certainly higher than it would be in other locations. Why shouldn't it be? This is capitalism and there is nothing wrong with it at all.
- Afforess 13y ago
  >Where are you drawing this conclusion from? Personal experience. >Perhaps there are people who like to spend money and buy things because it gives them a rush and makes them feel good. I feel bad for these people. >What exactly is wrong with buying "shiny things"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism#Criticism >This is capitalism and there is nothing wrong with it at all. This is a non-sequitur. I can be against Consumerism and still be a proponent of Capitalism.
ctdonath 13y ago
The shiny things, value you impute being zero, they sell are in fact products built by companies because they think people will in fact buy them. Somebody went thru non trivial trouble to make that bronze Sasquatch, and others are making an effort to sell it because they think it will sell. The more I see of "valueless crap" the more I'm amazed at how much value people see therein.
acdha 13y ago
Your comments radiate the smug elitism of someone who has never has their personal choices subjected to hostile review. I'm no fan of SkyMall (or e.g. Sharper Image) but it still rankles to see other peoples’ choices dismissed as invalid rather than simply different.

larrys 13y ago

"shiny things they sell appeal to consumers with no self-restraint." Where are you drawing this conclusion from? Perhaps there are people who like to spend money and buy things because it gives them a rush and makes them feel good. Same as people will spend money on other feel good things (like a ball game or a concert, a movie or a play or play an online game). What exactly is wrong with buying "shiny things"? And they don't lack competition as many of the things in the catalog can be located elsewhere. After all you still need to order and have it shipped to you. Look stores in the terminal have a business model that depends on a captive audience as well and the pricing for many items is certainly higher than it would be in other locations. Why shouldn't it be? This is capitalism and there is nothing wrong with it at all.

Afforess 13y ago
>Where are you drawing this conclusion from? Personal experience. >Perhaps there are people who like to spend money and buy things because it gives them a rush and makes them feel good. I feel bad for these people. >What exactly is wrong with buying "shiny things"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism#Criticism >This is capitalism and there is nothing wrong with it at all. This is a non-sequitur. I can be against Consumerism and still be a proponent of Capitalism.

ctdonath 13y ago

The shiny things, value you impute being zero, they sell are in fact products built by companies because they think people will in fact buy them. Somebody went thru non trivial trouble to make that bronze Sasquatch, and others are making an effort to sell it because they think it will sell. The more I see of "valueless crap" the more I'm amazed at how much value people see therein.

acdha 13y ago

Your comments radiate the smug elitism of someone who has never has their personal choices subjected to hostile review. I'm no fan of SkyMall (or e.g. Sharper Image) but it still rankles to see other peoples’ choices dismissed as invalid rather than simply different.