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I like your appraisal, especially "something not bought = something not produced". But I don't understand your final paragraph. How does the situation change if you replace an old but good winter coat in the winter rather than the summer? The season in which you buy something seems irrelevant to me.

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Usually winter coats are offered at steep discounts in the summer.

Ah, I see - so that discount introduces an incentive to buy unnecessary additional coats.

Not really... That coat is usually discounted because it's going to landfill soon.

If it ultimately doesn't sell, that's a signal to the manufacturer that will affect forecasting and production next year. Manufacturers don't want to waste money manufacturing things that don't end up selling.

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