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| Keywords: consumerism full price fullprice hypocrisy need for speed needforspeed oh dear ohdear project 365 project365 retail indoor Oh yes, I feel dirty. Not to mean that I need a shower, or that I'm about to make inappropriate advances to you. It's just that I've done two things that I try to never, ever do. The first is to go to PC World. The second is to pay full retail price for something. Oh, the horror! Yes, today I took my true love to work, and then went on to visit Dave and admire his tiling. The subplot here is that I bought Mike a copy of Need for Speed: Shift for the PS3 for his birthday. He's since told me that it rocks in the manner of things beyond awesome, and that I should buy it. Now this isn't much of a surprise - I'm still 17 at heart, and have bought (and finished) every Need for Speed game since the first Underground. The problem is that the supermarkets don't seem to stock PC games. You can't blame them, as the support is a nightmare. With consoles, you always know what you are programming for and so the results is always good. With PCs there are literally billions of potential combinations, and that's harder to programme for. Now, online is always my preferred marketplace. Unfortunately two other factors come into play. One is that we're in the midst of a postal strike, somewhat crippling my delivery prospects. The other is that I'm in my mid term break, so it would be advantageous to have it quickly. But oh, the dilemma! The only place I can conventiently get it is PC World, which I drive right past on my way home. But curses - I know it's going to be full retail price there. This means that in order to get the thing in my hand I'm forced to pay full retail price. I'm paying extra for instant gratification - the very core of the rampant consumerism that I so decry. Now, to buy it means that a charge of hypocrisy weighs against me - not something that sits easily. But then I do a cost benefit analysis and I can justify it. So then I just have to walk into PC World. Ew. Now, I shouldn't be hard on the place. They do a very difficult job. Twenty years ago to install and administrate a network you'd be a highly sought after professional commanding a phenomenal salary. Now we are calling computers and wireless networks consumer devices that anyone can use without talent or training. Supporting that isn't fun, and that's what PC World have taken on. Fortunately I didn't have to engage with anyone, and nobody tried to sell me anything other than that which I sought to buy. Things have improved since my last visit! And what's most important of all is that the game is brill. So in my defence, I went to buy a specific item, bought that item, and didn't buy anything else. But I still feel slightly soiled. ;) Oh yes, I feel dirty. Not to mean that I need a shower, or that I'm about to make inappropriate advances to you. It's just that I've done two things that I try to never, ever do. The first is to go to PC World. The second is to pay full retail price for something. Oh, the horror! Yes, today I took my true love to work, and then went on to visit Dave and admire his tiling. The subplot here is that I bought Mike a copy of Need for Speed: Shift for the PS3 for his birthday. He's since told me that it rocks in the manner of things beyond awesome, and that I should buy it. Now this isn't much of a surprise - I'm still 17 at heart, and have bought (and finished) every Need for Speed game since the first Underground. The problem is that the supermarkets don't seem to stock PC games. You can't blame them, as the support is a nightmare. With consoles, you always know what you are programming for and so the results is always good. With PCs there are literally billions of potential combinations, and that's harder to programme for. Now, online is always my preferred marketplace. Unfortunately two other factors come into play. One is that we're in the midst of a postal strike, somewhat crippling my delivery prospects. The other is that I'm in my mid term break, so it would be advantageous to have it quickly. But oh, the dilemma! The only place I can conventiently get it is PC World, which I drive right past on my way home. But curses - I know it's going to be full retail price there. This means that in order to get the thing in my hand I'm forced to pay full retail price. I'm paying extra for instant gratification - the very core of the rampant consumerism that I so decry. Now, to buy it means that a charge of hypocrisy weighs against me - not something that sits easily. But then I do a cost benefit analysis and I can justify it. So then I just have to walk into PC World. Ew. Now, I shouldn't be hard on the place. They do a very difficult job. Twenty years ago to install and administrate a network you'd be a highly sought after professional commanding a phenomenal salary. Now we are calling computers and wireless networks consumer devices that anyone can use without talent or training. Supporting that isn't fun, and that's what PC World have taken on. Fortunately I didn't have to engage with anyone, and nobody tried to sell me anything other than that which I sought to buy. Things have improved since my last visit! And what's most important of all is that the game is brill. So in my defence, I went to buy a specific item, bought that item, and didn't buy anything else. But I still feel slightly soiled. ;) | ||||
