Are we benefiting from a ‘free’ culture?

When you go shopping at the market, your favourite vendor throws in a ‘bratwa’.

That little extra piece of fruit or vegetable that you did not pay for certainly makes you feel a lot better. In fact, many persons might even say that the vendor’s actions will ensure that those who get extra goods that they did not have to purchase will now be  loyal customers.

Has that mentality though affected the quality of the things we get for free?

Well, carefully examine that extra fruit or vegetable you received and you might notice that it was not of the best quality. perhaps it is even the smallest one the vendor had or an item that was not as popular as the other items. Although you got it for free it certainly was not the best of what the vendor had for sale.

Everything Free Good?

Consider our health sector for example, it is clear that providing health care to the public while not explicitly demanding they pay has not entirely worked. I recently visited someone in one of the public hospitals and the list of things that they needed me to purchase for them was indicative of our ailing health system.

So clearly not all things that are touted as ‘free’ are of the same quality as those you have to buy.

I was once offered some samples in a store of a particular drink. The drink was not quite to my taste but I drank it all. It is very likely that if I had bought it then I would have tried to get back my money or at else not finish drinking it.

There are other cases where consumers are caught in the ‘freeness’ trap. A friend of mine once bought a pack of diapers with an unfamiliar brand name for her daughter because it came with a free pack of wipes. Imagine her disappointment when she got home and discovered that while the diapers were adequate, the wipes were made of such a thin material which made it totally ineffective.

Advice

So here are my thoughts about things being ‘free’.

Sometimes it’s good to get something extra. Times are hard and money is even harder to find than it used to be a few years ago.

That being said, it is not easy to find anyone giving away quality products or services. So it is best to check before you take the free offer.

If after your checks you realize that the quality is acceptable, by all means enjoy your treat!

So what do you think? Are we benefiting from a ‘free’ culture?

Sound off below!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner Online Writer