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Buying Stuff

Great essay on why we buy stuff. Love the way the author breaks down the buying process into the three logical component needs it feeds - Object, Enhancement and Experience. The author illustrates by example:

The Object is the phone. The Enhancement is the Spotify app. The Experience is that of listening to music.

The key to avoid excessive buying following this logic would be to avoid acquiring objects that by their very nature seek opportunities for enhancements which in turn trigger ways in which to improve the experience. Conversely an object that stands on its own and is able to deliver experiential value without needing enhancements would then limit the buying. One of my favorite kitchen items is my slow-cooker. I have had it for years and use it a lot. Reading this essay made me think about this particular purchase and what category it fell into. The answer is not so straight forward. 

If my cooking stove is the primary object then clearly it was not delivering the range of value I expected from it. There was gap which could be fulfilled through enhancement which came in the form of the slow-cooker and the experience is that of enjoying slow-cooked food and without being tethered to the stove - the slow-cooker earned me a degree of freedom.  

If instead I considered the slow-cooker the primary object then it does not beget enhancements and delivers experience intrinsically. At any rate, I am sure I will be thinking about this logical model next time I buy something. 

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