Sep 12, 2009

Incredible toaster

I just bought a new toaster at Target. It cost me $6.33. How is it possible that it cost as little as $6.33? The only shipping cost from China should be that high! Or even the gas of the truck that brings it from the port to the shop (passing by a warehouse...how about the rent of that warehouse?)
How can a "toaster with more than 400 components and sub-components, made from nearly 100 different materials", including oil for plastic, cost as little as $6.33?
As Tim Harford writes, "for no effort and very little money, we can buy a toaster and enjoy the global efforts of an uncounted workforce, and the accumulated knowledge of the centuries that the toaster embodies". Indeed!

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