The Never Ending Cycle of Stuff and Trucks

[J Patrick]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

Interesting where this has gone so far.
My post was intended as a semi tongue-in-cheek commentary on a cultural phenomenon in the U.S. That phenomenon is a generation buying stuff, ditching it and replacing it literally immediately with more stuff. Also, to include the circus of delivery and picking up by which the cycle is completed. It was intended to demonstrate frivolous and wasteful behavior.
Apparently I failed to convey that.

…you conveyed it well…..i get the irony in your sad commmentary on the state of mass consumerism that has become the mainstay of our modern economy……the cycle of trucks and stuff has become such a big part of life that as a topic it’s bound to expand….great song hook btw…trucks and stuff..

[KevWind]

Hate to rain on anyones parade..... But rampant consumerism and wasteful behavior is not new ...It's been in full swing "at least" since the 50's. And is not really generational specific either..
Perhaps people have forgotten Ron Popeil .

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Hate to rain on anyones parade..... But rampant consumerism and wasteful behavior is not new ...It's been in full swing "at least" since the 50's. And is not really generational specific either..
Perhaps people have forgotten Ron Popeil .

Very true. I noticed the differences taking out the trash as my parents gained success. Just the differences from when we started going to malls vs pretty much everything coming from grocer, hardware store, JC Penny and the farm store.

Our family in the recycling business grew the firm and facilities along with the fast food packaging and growth of malls. We bought new trucks and machines commensurate with the paper and packing industry growth.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Hate to rain on anyones parade..... But rampant consumerism and wasteful behavior is not new ...It's been in full swing "at least" since the 50's. And is not really generational specific either..
Perhaps people have forgotten Ron Popeil .

True, but not at current levels, not by a long shot.
The rampant use of credit cards is far beyond anything you could compare it to at any previous time and occurs at all economic levels.
My reference to this age group or “generation” was situational and in reference to my neighborhood where it is a certain age group that is plainly getting stuff on trucks. That was the point of my OP.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

True, but not at current levels, not by a long shot.
The rampant use of credit cards is far beyond anything you could compare it to at any previous time and occurs at all economic levels.
My reference to this age group or “generation” was situational and in reference to my neighborhood where it is a certain age group that is plainly getting stuff on trucks. That was the point of my OP.

Using the online shopping is very much across demographics. People with kids generate a lot more trash and recycling.

The point on rampant credit cards might not be understood here. It is convenience, speed and security. Not using modern payment systems would be a hard sell and hard to pull off.

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by J Patrick

the delivery trucks come out here daily……it makes a lot of sense if you think about it…one vehicle carrying dozens of items as opposed to dozens of vehicles driving the same distance to pick up one item each……personally I’m waiting for drone delivery….

True, but much more so in a more densely populated area than yours appears to be.

However. I mostly shop on Amazon since years, because they tend to have everything and for the best price. Before the corona circus, most of their shipments would be made using the national mail system. That means there'd be 1 delivery per day, at a relatively constant hour. Then I guess everyone got a prime subscription during the lockup periods, and the amount of delivery services used started to explose. Nowadays most is delivered by their own delvery service, which appears to use independent individual drivers, and shipments apparently go out on a 1st come 1st served bases. Not only does that mean I get deliveries up to 22h at night but sometimes there are several per day. That's not very "sustainable".
Also, it has apparently become near impossible to find the cheaper 2nd hand small vans favoured by artisan contractors (plumbers, macons etc) because they're all bought up by these delivery people.

[Dirk Hofman]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

True, but not at current levels, not by a long shot.
The rampant use of credit cards is far beyond anything you could compare it to at any previous time and occurs at all economic levels.
My reference to this age group or “generation” was situational and in reference to my neighborhood where it is a certain age group that is plainly getting stuff on trucks. That was the point of my OP.

What time period are you talking about? I think overall, usage over the last say, 40 years is way up, but over the last couple years is down and seems to have been dropping since about 2015. The pandemic seems to be pushing it down a small amount.

If you carry a balance, not a great strategy, but if you don't, not sure why it would be a bad thing. Personally I put everything on my card and pay it off every couple of weeks. I likes my free stuff on Amazon and my miles. And I like the protection.

[jpd]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

In the young families category there is an interesting and on-going phenomenon.
I have labeled this “ the exchange of stuff by truck” paradox.
Trucks come to the young families’ homes very frequently These trucks are marked U.P.S. Fed Ex, Amazon, United States Postal Service and a variety of other names.
The never ending cycle then begins anew.
Interesting place this U.S.A. neighborhood we inhabit.

Same on my little piece of heaven. Been here 32 years...seen the changes and now see the re-birth of young families moving in. One thing that is so different from 32 years ago-the daily delivery from Fed Ex, AMAZON, Ups, USPS, and on and on. Sure is interesting!...

[RedJoker]

One other comment about the deliveries. We live in a semi-rural area and our local Amazon started using private delivery drivers, kind of like Uber. Our house is secluded from the road behind a woods. We would have people driving up our long driveway, at 10PM, in unmarked cars to make deliveries. The first few times were rather frightening.

We've since put up a gate and all our packages are left behind the big flower pot out by the road.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

True, but not at current levels, not by a long shot.
The rampant use of credit cards is far beyond anything you could compare it to at any previous time and occurs at all economic levels.
My reference to this age group or “generation” was situational and in reference to my neighborhood where it is a certain age group that is plainly getting stuff on trucks. That was the point of my OP.

Well given the population is at a level beyond anything you could compare it to at any previous time that would seem to be a fairly linear conclusion.

And I would assume there is no doubt "to the door delivery" has markedly changed the demographics of shopping. But speculation about any significant change or effect on behavior, is just that,,,, speculation. And perhaps more a product of a refraction through the prism of "get off my lawn" than an observation of any meaningful shift in the human condition.

My wife and I are both retired ,both 72 and living where we live,, get Deliveries weekly . Everything from TP and sundries, to Farm box Veggies and fruit , to Flash Frozen Salmon.... just sayin' We do almost Zero shopping in town..
Admittedly now, my toys are few and far between, and are kept for a good long time.
But that was not the case when I was 10

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Dirk Hofman

What time period are you talking about? I think overall, usage over the last say, 40 years is way up, but over the last couple years is down and seems to have been dropping since about 2015. The pandemic seems to be pushing it down a small amount.

If you carry a balance, not a great strategy, but if you don't, not sure why it would be a bad thing. Personally I put everything on my card and pay it off every couple of weeks. I likes my free stuff on Amazon and my miles. And I like the protection.

My interpretation was using the cards vs carrying the credit card debt.

I've had same understanding that our nation has been better about the debt aspect. However I do see reactionary behavior by some over people using modern payment systems where some understand after learning more.

We are small in the realm of grocery/meat//BWL chains but have business that seems to mirror industry news. It seems most modern payment system use is just as you describe. Not using it if you have it is foolish. Beyond the perks and convenience you mention are security and speed.

Except for the bother to get the driver's license, having my wallet lost or stollen would be better than getting robbed or wasting more time.

Contactless payment is another matter. Anyone who can use the best contactless systems and doesn't is foolish. It doesn't give out your actual credit or debit card info. You only touch yourself.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Well given the population is at a level beyond anything you could compare it to at any previous time that would seem to be a fairly linear conclusion.

And I would assume there is no doubt "to the door delivery" has markedly changed the demographics of shopping. But speculation about any significant change or effect on behavior, is just that,,,, speculation. And perhaps more a product of a refraction through the prism of "get off my lawn" than an observation of any meaningful shift in the human condition.

My wife and I are both retired ,both 72 and living where we live,, get Deliveries weekly . Everything from TP and sundries, to Farm box Veggies and fruit , to Flash Frozen Salmon.... just sayin' We do almost Zero shopping in town..
Now admittedly now my toys are few and far between, and are kept for a good long time
But that was not the case when I was 10

I know approximately where you live and feel it's one of those places where delivery may well be less footprint in addition to convenience.

Where our main home vs cabin sits shopping is probably as convenient and good as anywhere in the region. Neighbors considered extreme or unwise with their shopping habits clearly lack sagacity in other areas. I'll use driving and idling full-sized SUVs and pickup trucks .5 to 2 block distances for the school bus as an example.

If I am being critical here, I confess the bias where we've been among neighbors who are out and about more and had the feral kids. I'm certain same sort of group or lifestyle goes back generations. The people in our neighborhood who are regulars in the parks and biergarten are just modern versions of the ones who were more active and social in the past.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by imwjl

I know approximately where you live and feel it's one of those places where delivery may well be less footprint in addition to convenience.

Where our main home vs cabin sits shopping is probably as convenient and good as anywhere in the region. Neighbors considered extreme or unwise with their shopping habits clearly lack sagacity in other areas. I'll use driving and idling full-sized SUVs and pickup trucks .5 to 2 block distances for the school bus as an example.

If I am being critical here, I confess the bias where we've been among neighbors who are out and about more and had the feral kids. I'm certain same sort of group or lifestyle goes back generations. The people in our neighborhood who are regulars in the parks and biergarten are just modern versions of the ones who were more active and social in the past.

Yes no question here home delivery is a significant reduction in footprint

For example, we live 27- miles ( 55 mile round trip) to the nearest shopping at a single Grocery (marginal for someone concerned with a decent diet) and a single variety/hardware store . Then it's a 100 mile round trip to better quality and more variety shopping .. And a 300 mile RT to any Big Box store (so obviously we are not the norm) But home delivery has been a godsend

[Mr. Jelly]

I've been looking for a three-ring binder of decent quality. I've been to four stores so far. I'm just saying ..........

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by imwjl

Contactless payment is another matter. Anyone who can use the best contactless systems and doesn't is foolish. It doesn't give out your actual credit or debit card info. You only touch yourself.

Excuse me? You can take that as the reason I disable the feature on all my cards then

Seriously, how on earth are you to know you'll be using "the best contactless systems" in a shop that offers it? I don't like the idea that payments can be charged to my card without confirmation, and I don't feel like turning my ***** pocket into a faraday cage with tin foil. Typing in the few digits of my pincode is a minor inconvenience.

Originally Posted by KevWind

Then it's a 100 mile round trip to better quality and more variety shopping .. And a 300 mile RT to any Big Box store (so obviously we are not the norm) But home delivery has been a godsend

We have a bit more choice at about 10 km but otherwise it's the same here (in kilometers, but the difference in fuel prices more than makes up for that )