Retail anarchy is, according to Pocker, the conception that "nobody is in charge." This isn’t entirely true, though, as he undoubtedly states that the consumer is in charge and ought to be. This comes at the expense of everything else, with not a care in the world given to equality, to driving the machines of consumption, to driving up cost by increasing demand, or to the retail or factory worker.
Pocker informs us brusquely and without examination that other paths don’t work. Boycotting products, for instance, "does not work." We aren’t told why. He explains his anger at supporting stores that pay cashier’s appalling wages, but continues to move products from their merchandise with the deduction that he is costing the retailer money . How livid can he possibly be if he continues to propagate the problem and obstinately heaps derision upon the precious cashier at the same time?
This book really rebrands consumption under the pretext that coupon shopping is somehow anarchic.
When Naomi Klein argues, rightly, in No Logo that companies are more interested in their brands and logos than their products, how exactly does Pocker’s solution to devour copious brand name products help resolve the problems he claims to be concerned with? The products are moving off of the shelves and sometimes down the drainpipe, opening space (demand) for even more products.
Not falling into the trap of consumption does work, as do boycotts and protests. Supporting Pepsi by consuming it sends endorsement to the company that dumped pesticides into the product in India and did business with Burmese military juntas in the 90s. It simply does not matter if Pepsi “pays” you to consume their product, either.
So while Pocker tells us that this is Retail Anarchy and that this is the way to rock the boat of consumerism, what he’s not telling us proves more interesting. Any part in mass consumption, any senseless expenditure of avoidable products, and any support to immoral brands, companies, or practices reflects implicit agreement for what those charlatans stand for.
Pocker’s “anarchy” is self-serving and preoccupied with getting the best deal possible no matter what the supplementary costs may be. It leaves the culpability with retailers and low paid workers, choosing a path of rudeness and offense over deeper thinking, education, and structural change.
Article comments