I was on autopilot at work today and this thought flew through my mind so I thought I’d share.

When you pick up a product in a store (lets use a music store and a CD as examples), you check out the tracks and you look at the price, if it’s not to much you continue to entertain the idea of purchasing it. Once you’ve convinced yourself that you can’t live without the CD, you carry it to the front of the store and set it on the counter. The cashier might make a comment about how they love that band, or they bought that CD last week, or maybe their just stare dumbly at the screen and tell you the price. You eventually hand over the money and finish your transaction and walk out of the store.

What did you just pay for? Did you think the store was going to forward your money to the artist? Of course you didn’t, but you convince yourself that you BUY your music in CD form to support the artist right? Well they already bought the CD from the artist, that’s why you are holding it in your hand.  So basically, you just payed the store a restocking fee. Obviously there are flaws in my logic because I’m sure some stores have tabs with artists and exclusive contracts and stuff like that. But the fact still remains, whether you buy that CD or not, it’s already paid for; the store might just have to take a loss if you don’t. Get out there and support your local music store!

P.S. This theory holds true for most products and most stores.

P.P.S I do not condone or pretend to joke about condoning piracy.