consumer and merchant

     America is known for its consumer culture. it is what the country is built off of. However, the idea of commerce is not something that was respected upon in eastern culture. it was traditionally thought of as a underhand technique as the act itself did not inherently produce any value. In that sense in the eastern culture farmers were view more highly. This i feel is reflected in some of the ways commerce is done from day-to-day bases as well. 

    A common thing about consumer culture in the west is that we see it as just simply a transaction and nothing more. Anything we buy or do in the process in doing so is done only as a bare necessity. We don't anything that is not obligated of the consumer either in policy or in common sense. such things usually just boil down to pay for your goods and occasionally do what is required of you at said place of business. Anything beyond that is purely up to the individual. Due to this policy often times more than not store would have to lay out policy in black and white. Such policy can extend to such as no returns on sold items or store do not provide grocery bags. These precautions are done in place as to avoid any need to confront each other outsider the bare minimum. This is even more the case for big corporations. however, in the east i feel like there is more room for discussions. Take for the case of haggling. Haggling is something that is seen as a skill in my family. Whereas in the west such acts are seen as shameful as if you are not nearly as qualified as other people. 

    These habits obviously have given rise many stereotypes such a the coupon moms or the rowdy teens in stores. These things have affected me in many ways as well. My habits will change from time to time as well depending on the atmosphere am around. For example, if i were to eat at a small dine in i would be more incline to talk to the merchant as opposed to if i was eating at a fancy restaurant or fast-food chain. This is the same way how i might behave more elegantly if i was shopping expensive items as opposed to groceries. i do feel like there is a economic gap as well as a cultural gap when it comes to shopping.