Includes bibliographical references (pages 143-150) and index.

"From raw materials on municipal rubbish dumps in the Far East, to newly re-made products and a journey across the seas, to bargain stores in Europe and North America and eventually to the homes of consumers, this is the complex story behind society's simplest and cheapest commodities. Weaving together compelling narratives from individuals at different parts of the commodity chain, including waste peddlers, wholesalers, stores owners and shoppers, this book considers the places and people at the heart of these localized, yet immense global networks. Following eight key objects, On the Commodity Trail combines ethnographies of material culture with a broader consideration of commodity culture at a time of global recession. This study explores the prevalence of the bargain store in our towns and cities and delves into the colourful and illuminating histories behind the objects on the shelf"-- Provided by publisher.

"Following the journey of eight bargain store objects, Alison Hulme reveals the complex story behind society's simplest and cheapest commodities. Inspired by Walter Benjamin's Arcades Project, On the Commodity Trail explores the colourful and fascinating histories of everyday objects. Along the way, we observe raw materials on municipal rubbish dumps in China, newly re-made products in the world's largest wholesale market, and take a journey across the seas, to bargain stores in Europe and North America, arriving finally in the homes of consumers. Weaving together narratives from the people we meet at different parts of the commodity chain -- waste peddlers, wholesalers, store owners, and shoppers -- the book examines the places and people at the heart of these localized yet immense global networks. Unlike other investigations of commodity chains, this study does not chart a straightforward trajectory from production to consumption. Instead, it demonstrates that the low-end commodity chain is one of constant rupture in which products are made and re-made, blurring the dividing line between producing and consuming." -- Publisher's description

Introduction: Eight Bargain Store Commodities and their Journeys -- The Dump: Shanghai and Tianjin as Graveyards and Birthplaces of Commodities -- The 'Commodity City': Yiwu, the World's Factory of Bargains -- The Container Port: The Overflowing Spaces of Felixstowe and Los Angeles -- The Bargain Store: Buying and Selling in the West's Spaces of 'Cheap' -- Conclusion: ... And Back to the Dump?

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