Bothered by a Deal?

Yesterday, the microwave oven bit the dust. When pressing start, there was a weird buzzing sound that lasted for only a second and then the panel went dark. That microwave was one of the first purchases we made in Canada. I think the oven was being used before the shipment of junk arrived from Dubai. So, I wasn't upset because it had lasted over a decade.

Luckily, it died when we were getting ready for lunch. That made picking up a replacement easy in the afternoon. When walking into the Queensborough Wal-mart, I mistook the place for a cattle auction. Rather, I learned it's always a zoo on Sundays. It was shocking nevertheless as I was reminded how the uptown Zeller's used to always be completely devoid of shoppers. Well, let's acknowledge they are no longer is business.

Speaking of such things, the replacement Hamilton Beach microwave was only $54. That is Canadian $54.00 and the numbers could be reversed for a quote in US dollars. Okay, I know that it was assembled by workers in China living on subsistence wages. Still, if one ran into a Radio Shack, he'd find that a power cord alone would cost a quarter of that.

I suppose I shouldn't be upset by an object that costs less than I think it's worth. In many much-poorer economies though, these devices are priced much higher. I do feel a bit of discomfort in the strange pricing patterns of a global economy.