Thread: Reading Between the Lines

Reading Between the Lines
.....
I am critical of most advertising, and in particular on TV. The other day a car commercial was on and they said you could save over 10,000 Dollars when buying one of their cars. $10,000! If I were buying a house I might expect to save ten Thousand dollars. It just tells me that they were over priced by 10,000 to begin with. Another advertised 50 % off. Half off! That tells me they could have sold it for half price in the past and were ripping us off until they find a reason to sell at a reasonable price instead of the typical rip.

Originally posted by dreamtamer007
Reading Between the Lines
.....
I am critical of most advertising and in particular on TV. The other day a car commercial was on and they said you could save over 10,000 Dollars when buying one of their cars. $10,000! If I were buying a house I might expect to save ten Thousand dollars. It just tells me that they were over priced by 10,000 to begin with. Another advertised 50 % off. Half off! That tells me they could have sold it for half price in the past and were ripping use off until they find a reason to sell at a reasonable price instead of the typical rip.

Don't you think that's a very cynical turn of mind? I mean, a bargain is a bargain right? Get in while you can, and then pity the poor suckers who missed it.

we're all poor suckers- either way

Originally posted by irishcream


Don't you think that's a very cynical turn of mind? I mean, a bargain is a bargain right? Get in while you can, and then pity the poor suckers who missed it.

I can only wish to be so trusting.

Originally posted by dreamtamer007

I can only wish to be so trusting.

Hmm, can you elaborate on that comment dreamtamer? I know at first hand the damage assumption does...

Just last night on TV there was a commercial that was selling clothing. A suit for only $99.99. NO way, I insist on paying $100 dollars. I don’t want to feel like I’m depriving anyone of the true value of an item.
Another way to look at it if you can see it. If I were to sell you something worth say $100.00 dollars. Would I ask or advertise it for $99.99. If you were selling something to me, would you ask for $99.99? Yet it’s everywhere and like puppies we just think oh boy, oh boy. Look a car for only $9,998.00 keep the two dollars you filthy animal. Lol

Originally posted by dreamtamer007
Just last night on TV there was a commercial that was selling clothing. A suit for only $99.99. *NO way, I insist on paying $100 dollars. I don’t want to feel like I’m depriving anyone of the true value of an item.
Another way to look at it if you can see it. If I were to sell you something worth say $100.00 dollars. Would I ask or advertise it for $99.99. If you were selling something to me, would you ask for $99.99? Yet it’s everywhere and like puppies we just think oh boy, oh boy. Look a car for only $9,998.00 * keep the two dollars you filthy animal. Lol

No one is saying that the suit is worth $100 or that the car is worth $10,000. Worth is completely relative. To the seller, the suit is worth less than $100, however, in the interest of making a profit and feeding his family, he sells it for $100. And to you, the buyer, the suit may be worth more or less than $100. If less, you don't buy, if more, you do.

You live in a capitalist society man, get used to it..

Originally posted by bradybaker


No one is saying that the suit is worth $100 or that the car is worth $10,000. Worth is completely relative. To the seller, the suit is worth less than $100, however, in the interest of making a profit and feeding his family, he sells it for $100. And to you, the buyer, the suit may be worth more or less than $100. If less, you don't buy, if more, you do.

You live in a capitalist society man, get used to it..

hear hear, brady. I agree with you...hell, if i could get even two dollars of something i really needed, of course i'd buy it! Like i said, a bargain is a bargain!
Isn't that like, playing them at their own game?

Originally posted by irishcream


Hmm, can you elaborate on that comment dreamtamer? *I know at first hand the damage assumption does...

I’m not assuming anything. I’m not debating the value of the item just the salesmanship. If you sold a vehicle worth 5000 in most cases you would sell for 5000. A salesman will sell it for 4999. Because the dollar or penny drops the incremental caliber of the money to make it look much less. I think that’s deception in a sneaky way.

Pricing down by that "penny" is a common marketing ploy as advertisers believe that consumers are more likely to buy when the price is $299 as opposed to $300.. but only a child would fail to realize that by the time you add the tax (state and/or federal) the price has jumped way past that penny saved!

Originally posted by Clairity
Pricing down by that \"penny\" is a common marketing ploy as advertisers believe that consumers are more likely to buy when the price is $299 as opposed to $300.. but only a child would fail to realize that by the time you add the tax (state and/or federal) the price has jumped way past that penny saved! *

Yes, I realize that. I’m just tired of seeing it everywhere and again if you have an item that could sell for $300 and put it in a classifieds, would you ever charge or even advertise it for $299 and if not why? No, I’ll answer that. Because we would feel like a smacked ass to advertise like that. Why, are we not royal like the businesses? No because we are not motivated by what drives most businesses. Your money. I say most because there may be a few that actually care about the welfare of the human race. A few. Not the majority.

Originally posted by bradybaker
To one is saying that the suit is worth $100 or that the car is worth $10,000. Worth is completely relative. To the seller, the suit is worth less than $100, however, in the interest of making a profit and feeding his family, he sells it for $100. And to you, the buyer, the suit may be worth more or less than $100. If less, you don't buy, if more, you do.

You live in a capitalist society man, get used to it..

Best argument here.

Generally, that suit probably cost around $15-$20 to make. Places mark the price up to make a profit. Big freakin' deal. If you want it so bad, you can make it. It's really not that hard. You'll spend a helluva lot less.

Of course, you can't really make your own car, though. You just have to suck it up and play their game in that case. Cant' do much about it.

Here is an overview of recent research done into numerical cognition, specifically dealing with 99-pricing and the left digit effect:

http://www.acrwebsite.org/topic.asp?artid=274

Originally posted by dreamtamer007

Yes, I realize that. I’m just tired of seeing it everywhere and again if you have an item that could sell for $300 and put it in a classifieds, would you ever charge or even advertise it for $299 and if not why? No, I’ll answer that. Because we would feel like a smacked ass to advertise like that. Why, are we not royal like the businesses? No because we are not motivated by what drives most businesses. Your money. I say most because there may be a few that actually care about the welfare of the human race. A few. Not the majority.

Our economy would be in sad (well, sadder) shape if it was the job of the business to lookout for the welfare of humanity.

Originally posted by dream-scape
Here is an overview of recent research done into numerical cognition, specifically dealing with 99-pricing and the left digit effect:

http://www.acrwebsite.org/topic.asp?artid=274

Interesting. The last few lines do kind of sum it up.

Sometimes, when the numbers are close to each other and the encoding process becomes relatively difficult, the magnitude tends to get anchored on the left-most digit. This underestimation, arguably, occurs when we do approximate analog comparisons rather than precise arithmetic comparisons. Our view is that people do have the ability to be more accurate when they want to be, but obviously such accuracy comes at the expense of additional time and attention.

From Aussie movie The Castle: (legendary movie)


Son: "Dad, there's some bloke here in the paper selling jousting sticks"

Dad: "Joustin' sticks eh?"

Son: "Yeh, half price too he says."

Dad: "Half price, that's great! What's his number?"

Mum: "What are joustin' sticks darl?"

Dad: "Buggered if I know, but half price is a bargain!"

**Dad chews his bacon for a while**

Dad: "What's he askin' for em?"

Son: "Two fifty."

Dad: "Two fifty? Tell him he's dreaming..."