Shopping Addicts

Stores and banks create consumer addicts when they flood us with  ‘hurry offer ends soon’ alerts.

Society doesn’t like drug addicts, especially those in street corners.  It’s easy to condemn them because they are not protected by big mansions, such as addicts we live with. We also call drug addiction a habit.

A habit is a self-induced. It’s something we do unconsciously . We don’t have to do it. It’s not a must, like eating when we are hungry or quenching thirst with a glass of water. 

Hurry offer ends soon, is habit forming. I cannot afford to miss those bath towels at 50% off although we have ten new towels we’ve never used. Habit forming is when i must buy something to accumulate points on my credit card.

I don’t agree, you rightfully point out. Adults are adults. Nobody forces them to respond to ‘hurry offer ends soon’ alerts. We are solely responsible for shopping addiction whether it is peer pressure or shopping because we are bored.

However, banks and stores are also to blame. There is urgency in ‘hurry, offer ends soon.’ It almost sounds like a favour, somebody reminding you of what you ought to do. ‘Hurry ends soon’ is enticing. It promises a warm feeling, possessing 20 more towels.

How is that different from the drug habit?

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.