Perhaps my evaluation is wrong, but it is based on the incontrovertible concept that corporations do not lose money on purpose. CEOs don’t lose, either.
In the end, Your Mileage May Vary left me with more questions than answers. What if the Culture of Coupons and bargain-hunting passion were more pervasive? What kind of a consumer culture would it be then? Would North America and most of the Western world cease being a culture identified with how much we devour and, indeed, how much we waste? What, if anything, about this obsession is harmful? What of those who buy what they don’t need purely because it is on sale? What about combating consumerism and gratuitous corporate brand support by becoming educated and buying locally instead of snapping up sale items?
Who is the loser in the “coupon game?” I doubt it is the corporations. Perhaps it is the workers, maybe those in China stringing together products for pennies. Perhaps it is the neighbourhood Albertson’s outlet. Perhaps I am wrong. The clear winner is the customer and for Pocker it appears as though that is enough.
Sam Pocker is a professional bargain hunter. His documentary presents the lifestyles of several others in the same “business.” It makes for an interesting watch, to be sure, but it left me wanting more dialogue and another side to the story. It also left me in want of different, better solutions to the rising tide of obscene consumerism, waste, and inequitable corporate practices.
Article comments
1 - Christina
The psychology behind the craze for coupons, rebates and such is pretty amazing and complex. It seems like it's become engrained into our cultural DNA. Will have to give this documentary a watch!!