When a Deal Isn’t Really a Deal
There are ads all over that proclaim to have a great deal. Ads can be so persuasive that they can tempt us to spend money on something that really isn’t a deal at all if it is looked at from all perspectives.
Recently I heard one ad on the radio from a place that sells chocolate-dipped strawberries. They were offering a price of $19.99 for a dozen which was 1/3 off their regular price and then said that there was also a second dozen included for that price as well as some giant cookies for free with the order and free delivery. This does seem an incredible offer. Given their regular prices, this package would be at least 60 dollars instead of 20–a savings of $40 or 60%, which is pretty impressive.
Since it is almost Christmas, my mind went immediately to buying this for a gift. I have heard that there are actually physiological reactions in the body just thinking about a purchase. I found myself becoming a bit excited as I considered who I could give this gift to as well as whether it would be 2 or 3 gifts and even possibilities of keeping some parts for myself. Most of the people that came to mind were not people we usually buy for and it would be nice to give to someone who wouldn’t in any way expect it.
Rationality prevailed, however. All the people on my planned gift list were already taken care of and the people who the gift could be for would have resulted in buying for others in their family as well.
So if I would have yielded to my feelings and taken this “deal,” I would have spent more than the $40 I would have “saved.” Looking at the total picture, this was not really a deal for me. I hope I continue to let my rationality overcome the physiological high and not give in to temptation to blindly buy when faced with decisions like this.
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