Not-to-Buy Trend – the Revival of an Old Phenomenon

Majdecka, Ewa

Not-to-Buy Trend – the Revival of an Old Phenomenon

Abstract

Not-to-buy trend - the idea of an exchange, borrowing things, reconstructing or remaking objects is not a discovery of the present time. Currently the Internet has made us able to increase the speed of communication and has connected people we would not have been able to get in touch before. This tool has given us a chance to reinforce the popularity of a ‘Not-to-buy trend’. This article describes elements of the ‘Not-to-buy trend’ by pointing out sets of characteristic actions, groups of participants and their motivation to take part in (what is referred to by the people surveyed) a lifestyle. The thesis describes and also comments some of the principles that rule the behaviour of some specific consumer groups, gathering around different virtual spaces on the Internet. I also point out a different understanding of ‘consumerism’ used among the anthropologists, sociologists and the people surveyed. The definitions constructed by each of the groups seem to be contradictive. At the end I am wondering, if “Not-to-buy trend” is only a revival of an old phenomenon or maybe something totally new.

Description

This is an English translation of my article published in „Nauka i Szkolnictwo Wyższe” (1/41/2013) (http://studiumewaluacji.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/Nauka_I_Szkolnictwo_Wyzsze_nr1-41-2013.pdf).