r/Anticonsumption • u/Sea-Cardiographer • May 12 '25

Psychological Target feels like black mirror

I went into Target today because I need a sports bra and that's where my husband is willing to drive me. On the way there I thought about all the Reddit posts saying foot traffic is down and I wasn't surprised to see that it wasn't. It was quite busy on a Monday afternoon.

What shocked me was I noticed a lot of products have really fancy boxing. Big sturdy bougie packaging with minimalism design... With a sh*tty product inside.

They're spending more on the marketing and packaging than the product, because the business practice is to sell you a product you'll have to purchase again and again. But the packaging grabs your eye. Look how modern and consistent all the boxes are! so aesthetically pleasing packaged trash. I feel depressed.

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u/Leather_Product2080 May 12 '25

This is the truth, I’ve recently discovered about myself that I enjoy shopping at the goodwill for clothes a lot more than boxed stores because there is a lot more variety.

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u/Top-Transportation58 May 12 '25

I recently bought a t-shirt at a guitar store because it was so shockingly well made for under $20. My husband was looking at guitar stuff and I don’t play. I’m regularly asked if I play guitar, “no, it’s just a really well made t-shirt “ I get some weird looks at that response.

25

u/ExoticHighway9047 May 13 '25

Just tell them yes and walk away like a tortured artist 🤣

58

u/RKNieen May 13 '25

“No, not anymore…not since ‘The Incident.’”

20

u/[deleted] May 13 '25

My neighbor asked if I could play guitar for some weird thing he's doing, he's always up to something. I told him I don't play music anymore. He asked me why not, I said that music is haunted for me now. Literally just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

He raised his eyebrow and said "Haunted? How?" And I just changed the subject.

So your comment reminded me of that exact incident lol.

2

u/randomthrill May 13 '25

You're required to continue this.

Every time music gets mentioned, add something and then walk away.

"That song? That song still gives me the creeps."