Musing About Shoeshines, and the Free-Market Question of the Week

December 11, 2008

Musing About Shoeshines, and the Free-Market Question of the Week

One of our two terrific interns, Calvin, and I had a great talk on the way back to the office from City Hall today. (We were there to distribute copies of our recent studies to the Board of Aldermen, the mayor, etc., but that does not relate to this post.) Calvin and I share very similar beliefs about questions like social capital and interaction, best described in the famous book Bowling Alone.

Somehow, the talk turned to shoeshines, and we began to think of the many great things about getting a shoeshine. When you get your shoes shined at a place like Andre’s in Clayton, you: A) improve the value of an asset, in that your shoes will look more professional and better handle wear and tear; and, B) have a very pleasant time in the process, because shoeshine proprietors tend to be good conversationalists, like bartenders, or perhaps you’d just quietly enjoy the newspaper; and, finally, C) get both of these things for what we all consider to be a very inexpensive price — about $7.

So, I ask you, before I leave to go get a shoeshine, what are some other things that have these three qualities? There are lots of serves with which you spend a little money to improve the value of something you own, but it is usually not fun to go to the dry cleaners. There are countless ways to have a pleasant experience for a little money, like going to a nice bar, but they generally don’t improve the value of anything. Lastly, there are clearly things that improve the value of an asset, and are fun, but are not considered inexpensive — like golf lessons.

My initial inclination is that a car wash is the closest thing to a shoeshine. For people who enjoy yard work, gardening might fit here, too. A small investment in seeds and hand tools can lead to hours of enjoyment in your yard, improving the value of your property. Haircuts could almost make it — but for women, at least, a trip to the stylist is not cheap. Let me know your thoughts. …

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Immediately I thought of my weekly pilgrimage to Ballwin to stop by Comic Book Relief. There I spend money, though it’s not always the smallest of amounts, to buy comics that improve the quantity and quality of my collection. While there, I get to chat it up with fellow patrons and my comic book guy about the fictional events that transpired that week.

Comment by Jacob Voss — December 11, 2008 @ 2:37 p.m.
Definitely a do-it-yourself car wash, at least until you get to the vacuuming part.

Comment by Mike S. — December 11, 2008 @ 3:05 p.m.
You find that enjoyable? I gain a lot more utility from going through the automatic ones. Not only are the spraying jets pretty neat, but also, I have the satisfaction of not having to clean my car myself.

Comment by Jacob Voss — December 11, 2008 @ 3:16 p.m.
Funny — I’ve always had the satisfaction of not having to clean my car by never getting a car wash…

Comment by Eric D. Dixon — December 11, 2008 @ 3:28 p.m.
I had a lot of thoughts on this, not many of which particularly count.
-going to the movies increases your conversational capital, is cheap and fun.
-sketching in your spare time is cheap and fun, and can improve your skills at drawing. bonus: sketch your friends to make it a social activity!
-getting a professional shave is almost exactly like the shoeshine option, I think.
-getting your dog groomed is pretty cheap, fun for some, and increases your pet’s street cred(a form of capital, perhaps).
-many work on their car in their spare time, or have a project car. this can be pricey, but meets the other criteria.
-Washing your car is another great match: cheap, fun to watch the robot arms work(especially if they use colorful foam[ok, I'm easily amused]) and improves the appearance of your car greatly. I am highly encouraged to wash my car frequently by my employer, and some of my fellow employees buy $3 car washes daily, which brings me to my last point. . .

-taking a taxi* is cheap for short distances(less than $2/mi), fun if the driver is an interesting character, and more valuable than a shoeshine if the alternative is walking in the rain, wind or snow.

granted few of these particularly match, but I happen to think that shoeshines are on the way out with improvements in technology, already they are far less prevalent than they once were.

*Full Disclosure: Josh Smith works as a licensed taxi driver in the city of St Louis and St Louis County.

Comment by Josh Smith — December 11, 2008 @ 3:32 p.m.
I think that practicing music qualifies. The more you hone your musical skill (whether it be singing or playing an instrument), the more valuable that skill becomes. Playing music is something that can be a lot of fun, whether you are practicing by yourself or with a group of people. Aside from the cost of obtaining an instrument (which is nothing, if your voice is your instrument), this activity is entirely free and can be done almost anywhere.

Comment by Dave Roland — December 11, 2008 @ 4:18 p.m.
Of course! Music is a great suggestion. So when are we gonna start the SMI Good Time Jam Band? I play a little guitar and Eric was once a professional strolling accordionist, you know.

Comment by Josh Smith — December 11, 2008 @ 4:37 p.m.
I’ll tickle the ivories.

Comment by Jacob Voss — December 11, 2008 @ 4:39 p.m.
Well, I’m not sure the word “professional” would really apply — but $5 an hour wasn’t bad money for a 12-year-old in 1984…

Comment by Eric D. Dixon — December 11, 2008 @ 4:40 p.m.
Personally…I find no better capitalization of effort and time to maximize social interaction and conversation than brewing beer.

Brewing beer gives me a working knowledge of biology, chemistry, history, physics, the culinary arts (since it’s a well known fact that beer pairs better and with more foods than wine) and several other fields. Not only is the hobby itself an opportunity to learn about all those things but it provides for a high degree of social interaction.

it A) improves the value of water, yeast, hops, and grain. Which all individually mean very little to me. The assets then become something more valuable than themselves, an opportunity to get together and share. Something that has worked great not only on a personal level but a professional level as well. I would estimate that I give away over 80% of all the beer I make. Last year I brewed the maximum allowable legal limit of 200 gallons. Each gallon equal approximately 10 beers. That equals out to about 38 beers a week or 2000 beers total. I’m lucky to drink 5 beers a week, even during the summer. I think the value comes in the social interaction that homebrewing brings. Additionally, it B) allows me 2 hours or so to enjoy the process. Considering everything overall, it’s very simple, the fun comes in the challenge of inventing new beers. Last year I made a chocolate strawberry beer that was literally better than chocolate covered strawberries. Last week I had the best beer in Saint Louis with my Bourbon Barrel Porter. That beer is the hybrid of a dark porter and a great whiskey. It has put me on my own personal quest to find the perfect pairing with a cigar. So far this beer is as close as I’ve come. Plus, C) it is very cheap. I can brew 50 beers for around $25-35. Much cheaper than 50 craft beers either store bought or at a bar. I can brew them for less than a dollar a piece and even store bought it is at least a dollar per beer. So overall it’s a cheap investment in not only the social interaction that naturally goes with beer but it’s also a cheap investment in good conversation and an extra curricular education.

That was ridiculously long…Can you tell I took my Con Law II exam this morning?

Comment by PME — December 11, 2008 @ 9:20 p.m.
for me, paying ppl to do anything for me at all is a thrill. for example when I first started working for the commercial real estate company currently employing me, my task was gutting a large office building. at first there was kind of a destructive glee in personally having free reign to kick in doors and swing sledgehammers against walls. then we hired a larger crew, and my role became strictly overseer. so then I got to have goons follow me around w the power to say, “hey goon, kick in that door”. I discovered the latter situation to be much more enjoyable, regardless of saving me physical labor. and the best part was at the end of the day, these guys just busted their ass for 8 solid hours and all they get is 80 bucks. it still blows my mind how cheap $10/hr is for hard labor. this changed my whole perspective on outsourcing, and now I pay ppl to clean my apt instead of doing it myself, etc.

Comment by vroman — December 12, 2008 @ 7:37 a.m.
Re: do it yourself car washes. Yes, I enjoy using pulling the car into the bay and cleaning it myself. Instant gratification. Plus, as a person who makes his living sitting behind a desk, the very light labor involved feels good. Unfortunately, do-it-yourself car washes are scarce in high land cost areas like Northern Virginia, where I live. In fact, the amount of money it takes to own a driveway or a basement around here makes all sorts of hobbies difficult.

Comment by Mike S. — December 12, 2008 @ 9:54 a.m.

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Immediately I thought of my weekly pilgrimage to Ballwin to stop by Comic Book Relief. There I spend money, though it’s not always the smallest of amounts, to buy comics that improve the quantity and quality of my collection. While there, I get to chat it up with fellow patrons and my comic book guy about the fictional events that transpired that week.

Comment by Jacob Voss — December 11, 2008 @ 2:37 p.m.

Definitely a do-it-yourself car wash, at least until you get to the vacuuming part.

Comment by Mike S. — December 11, 2008 @ 3:05 p.m.

You find that enjoyable? I gain a lot more utility from going through the automatic ones. Not only are the spraying jets pretty neat, but also, I have the satisfaction of not having to clean my car myself.

Comment by Jacob Voss — December 11, 2008 @ 3:16 p.m.

Funny — I’ve always had the satisfaction of not having to clean my car by never getting a car wash…

Comment by Eric D. Dixon — December 11, 2008 @ 3:28 p.m.

I had a lot of thoughts on this, not many of which particularly count.
-going to the movies increases your conversational capital, is cheap and fun.
-sketching in your spare time is cheap and fun, and can improve your skills at drawing. bonus: sketch your friends to make it a social activity!
-getting a professional shave is almost exactly like the shoeshine option, I think.
-getting your dog groomed is pretty cheap, fun for some, and increases your pet’s street cred(a form of capital, perhaps).
-many work on their car in their spare time, or have a project car. this can be pricey, but meets the other criteria.
-Washing your car is another great match: cheap, fun to watch the robot arms work(especially if they use colorful foam[ok, I'm easily amused]) and improves the appearance of your car greatly. I am highly encouraged to wash my car frequently by my employer, and some of my fellow employees buy $3 car washes daily, which brings me to my last point. . .

-taking a taxi* is cheap for short distances(less than $2/mi), fun if the driver is an interesting character, and more valuable than a shoeshine if the alternative is walking in the rain, wind or snow.

granted few of these particularly match, but I happen to think that shoeshines are on the way out with improvements in technology, already they are far less prevalent than they once were.

*Full Disclosure: Josh Smith works as a licensed taxi driver in the city of St Louis and St Louis County.

Comment by Josh Smith — December 11, 2008 @ 3:32 p.m.

I think that practicing music qualifies. The more you hone your musical skill (whether it be singing or playing an instrument), the more valuable that skill becomes. Playing music is something that can be a lot of fun, whether you are practicing by yourself or with a group of people. Aside from the cost of obtaining an instrument (which is nothing, if your voice is your instrument), this activity is entirely free and can be done almost anywhere.

Comment by Dave Roland — December 11, 2008 @ 4:18 p.m.

Of course! Music is a great suggestion. So when are we gonna start the SMI Good Time Jam Band? I play a little guitar and Eric was once a professional strolling accordionist, you know.

Comment by Josh Smith — December 11, 2008 @ 4:37 p.m.

I’ll tickle the ivories.

Comment by Jacob Voss — December 11, 2008 @ 4:39 p.m.

Well, I’m not sure the word “professional” would really apply — but $5 an hour wasn’t bad money for a 12-year-old in 1984…

Comment by Eric D. Dixon — December 11, 2008 @ 4:40 p.m.

Personally…I find no better capitalization of effort and time to maximize social interaction and conversation than brewing beer.

Brewing beer gives me a working knowledge of biology, chemistry, history, physics, the culinary arts (since it’s a well known fact that beer pairs better and with more foods than wine) and several other fields. Not only is the hobby itself an opportunity to learn about all those things but it provides for a high degree of social interaction.

it A) improves the value of water, yeast, hops, and grain. Which all individually mean very little to me. The assets then become something more valuable than themselves, an opportunity to get together and share. Something that has worked great not only on a personal level but a professional level as well. I would estimate that I give away over 80% of all the beer I make. Last year I brewed the maximum allowable legal limit of 200 gallons. Each gallon equal approximately 10 beers. That equals out to about 38 beers a week or 2000 beers total. I’m lucky to drink 5 beers a week, even during the summer. I think the value comes in the social interaction that homebrewing brings. Additionally, it B) allows me 2 hours or so to enjoy the process. Considering everything overall, it’s very simple, the fun comes in the challenge of inventing new beers. Last year I made a chocolate strawberry beer that was literally better than chocolate covered strawberries. Last week I had the best beer in Saint Louis with my Bourbon Barrel Porter. That beer is the hybrid of a dark porter and a great whiskey. It has put me on my own personal quest to find the perfect pairing with a cigar. So far this beer is as close as I’ve come. Plus, C) it is very cheap. I can brew 50 beers for around $25-35. Much cheaper than 50 craft beers either store bought or at a bar. I can brew them for less than a dollar a piece and even store bought it is at least a dollar per beer. So overall it’s a cheap investment in not only the social interaction that naturally goes with beer but it’s also a cheap investment in good conversation and an extra curricular education.

That was ridiculously long…Can you tell I took my Con Law II exam this morning?

Comment by PME — December 11, 2008 @ 9:20 p.m.

for me, paying ppl to do anything for me at all is a thrill. for example when I first started working for the commercial real estate company currently employing me, my task was gutting a large office building. at first there was kind of a destructive glee in personally having free reign to kick in doors and swing sledgehammers against walls. then we hired a larger crew, and my role became strictly overseer. so then I got to have goons follow me around w the power to say, “hey goon, kick in that door”. I discovered the latter situation to be much more enjoyable, regardless of saving me physical labor. and the best part was at the end of the day, these guys just busted their ass for 8 solid hours and all they get is 80 bucks. it still blows my mind how cheap $10/hr is for hard labor. this changed my whole perspective on outsourcing, and now I pay ppl to clean my apt instead of doing it myself, etc.

Comment by vroman — December 12, 2008 @ 7:37 a.m.

Re: do it yourself car washes. Yes, I enjoy using pulling the car into the bay and cleaning it myself. Instant gratification. Plus, as a person who makes his living sitting behind a desk, the very light labor involved feels good. Unfortunately, do-it-yourself car washes are scarce in high land cost areas like Northern Virginia, where I live. In fact, the amount of money it takes to own a driveway or a basement around here makes all sorts of hobbies difficult.

Comment by Mike S. — December 12, 2008 @ 9:54 a.m.

December 11, 2008