Do you ever do "pity shopping" ?

[Virtual ghost]

"Pity shopping" is the term I just made up as the mixture of shopping and pity sex.
Therefore do you ever buy things that you don't really really need but you could or will use anyway simply because you know that the person or company selling is in financial trouble ? How often do you deliberately buy something from your local underdeveloped/troubled regions if the price and quality are reasonable ?

 

[ceecee]

"Pity shopping" is the term I just made up as the mixture of shopping and pity sex.
Therefore do you ever buy things that you don't really really need but you could or will use anyway simply because you know that the person or company selling is in financial trouble ? How often do you deliberately buy something from your local underdeveloped/troubled regions if the price and quality are reasonable ?

As far as other countries go - this is a super American thing. The entire Fair Trade idea is based on it.

Global Crafts | Wholesale Fair Trade Handmade Gifts and Crafts

Not that fair trade isn't a good idea, it is. But it's marketed to make one focus on on the poverty, the destitute living conditions, exploitation or some other negative in the hopes that it guilts one into buying the product.

If they would just say - we are a socially sustainable for-profit business, providing craftspeople or food suppliers an avenue to sell their products/crops/wares without being too ripped off by us (or at least not talking too loudly about it) and wrapping it in nice, clean, organic cotton cloth. Maybe it will improved the lives of craftspeople, maybe it won't but you, the consumer, will probably feel better.

That said, I buy from an entire country that's having a rough time as much as possible. The one I live in, preferably from the local are I live in.

 

[Grand Admiral Crunch]

In my area, there's a big push to support local businesses as opposed to mass produced products or big chain type places. I went to one of the local breakfast places here. I ordered a plate that was supposed to have two biscuits. I got one split in half and I asked the waitress where the other one is, and she said "they count the one as two since they cut it in half." I complained about everything, including that, until they gave me half my money back. I haven't returned to there, and don't plan to. Businesses that mess up need to go out of business. It's just like how I would be fired from a job if I didn't do it well.

On the other hand, I do support local businesses that I want to stick around. There's no pity in it for me.

 

[Smilephantomhive]

I have thought about and felt bad for this Greek food place right next to the chick fil a because it wasn't getting any customers, but I haven't actually purchased and food from them since you can't beat chick fil a.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

I'll buy things my friends make that I wouldn't have bought otherwise. Also there was a used clothing boutique next to where I worked that was a cute start up and I liked supporting it because they did need customers, but I'll have to say most of that pity motivated shopping was for myself. It was a rough summer.

 

[Lark]

Erm, nope, never do this. Ever.