Have you ever noticed...

[PaulSage]

... how some breeders' geckos are ALWAYS on "sale"??

Am I the only one who reads desperation into ads that use words several words like 'extravaganza' or 'super sale' or 'blow out'? It reminds me of bargain shopping from the clearance rack at a Liquidators or something.

I feel that I have a pretty darn good grasp of economics, but I'll admit I don't know shit about marketing. Does that type of syntax really work? I mean, when I see "bargains" I usually think of something along the lines of 'I really just want to get rid of this gecko because I don't care about it' or 'hurry up and buy it before it dies' or 'I have another shipment of wholesale crap coming in next week and need the space'.

So I guess my question is, Am I off in my perception? Do other people have the same reaction to such ads regarding reptiles?

And why is it that there seems to be a strong relationship between such ads and sellers who have shaky histories and little/no reputation? Am I off on that as well?

I guess I've just grown accustomed to the mentality that "you get what you pay for" and "if it's too good to be true, it probably ain't."

Sorry I don't know where that thought came from. I think I have diarrhea of the brain or something today. Thank God for Q-Tips, right?

 

[Grinning Geckos]

I can't tell you about reptiles, but in the retail world people do respond to "sale". I can tell you from experiance that people feel they are getting a bargain when they pay $200 for something and they got a 50% off "sale", and don't feel so good when they pay $190 for the exact same thing with no "sale" from someone else. Merchant #1 is marking WAY up in order to mark down. It's totally fucked up, and it works.

Also, it really doesn't matter how much they are saving in a lot of cases. I've offered discounts on items that save the people $15 ... on a $300 item ... and it makes the sale! I always think it's fucking stupid. However, you can't argue with the fact that a $315 price tag almost made someone walk, and at $300 they're smiling and handing over money.

Point blank...most people are dumb.

 

[o0 Ryan 0o]

I'm with you. I'll put a slash in my prices and show a new price or mention a discount for people here. I hate the whole bige sale/blow out deal....AND IT'S ALWAYS IN CAPS. I really hate being yelled at in an ad.

 

[Grinning Geckos]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

As far as marketing goes, showing the old price and the new sale price is quite effective.

There is a fine line between good business, and being a scumbag. Having "sales" all the freaking time (when you don't have any intention of selling at the original price) put you in the scumbag group. Haahaa...can you tell I'm a little bitter? Even if you try to explain it to someone, most people give you that head tilt and blank stare...if you listen closely you can hear a brain cell die.

 

[PaulSage]

I can't tell you about reptiles, but in the retail world people do respond to "sale". I can tell you from experiance that people feel they are getting a bargain when they pay $200 for something and they got a 50% off "sale", and don't feel so good when they pay $190 for the exact same thing with no "sale" from someone else. Merchant #1 is marking WAY up in order to mark down. It's totally fucked up, and it works.

Also, it really doesn't matter how much they are saving in a lot of cases. I've offered discounts on items that save the people $15 ... on a $300 item ... and it makes the sale! I always think it's fucking stupid. However, you can't argue with the fact that a $315 price tag almost made someone walk, and at $300 they're smiling and handing over money.

Point blank...most people are dumb.

See, I guess I've come to accept that as the "norm" after working retail and whatnot, but I guess I'm just still confused by ...well... your last statement. lol The price is the price, I don't care what the fuck price it is normally; I just assess whether or not I think the price is fair and appropriate for the item. If I see a price and think it's good [good = fair and appropriate, not necessarily a "good deal"] and I want it and can afford it, I buy it. If doesn't matter if that item is on "sale" or not. Some "sale" prices are still too high for what I am willing to pay for the item.

I'm with you. I'll put a slash in my prices and show a new price or mention a discount for people here. I hate the whole bige sale/blow out deal....AND IT'S ALWAYS IN CAPS. I really hate being yelled at in an ad.

heh heh heh... "yelled at". :main_laugh:

Holy fuck do I hate ads in caps. I remember when I first started buying reptiles on Kingsnake, that I wouldn't buy from anyone who had their ads in caps or had abundant spelling/grammatical errors. Back then (before I ever heard about Fauna and the BOI) it just left an uneasy buyer-beware feeling in me.

Also, at my previous retail jobs I remember dealing with the "price police". You know, the little clan that comes through and makes sure that shelf prices match register prices and all that. Anyway, I remember learning that you could not legally have a "sale" price unless that item had an established "regular" price. Maybe that was just bullshit my boss told me, I don't know. He was kind of a dipshit.

 

[Grinning Geckos]

See Paul...you forget that you're more rational than you're average sheep.

Whoops...did I just say sheep?

I've seen this nonsense every day for the last 8 years. Michaels has a running 50% off sale FOREVER (actually, they do other sales too now, but they're equally crazy). I don't know what the law says exactly...but basically they have 4 weeks out of the year where there isn't a sale going on. It hurts our business because people can't get it through their thick skulls that our NORMAL price beats Michaels sale price in most cases. We have a price guarantee that we will beat their price. General perception is...WE'RE the expensive ones! I can tell you they have to mark up 10x to cover the continual sales....we don't. It's not at all logical!

Also, it's not like their product is better....cuz it's crap! They use PLASTIC to join frames. Michaels comes to us to fix their problems.

Rant over.

The small discount story happens all the time. I tell you...people seem more concerned with the feeling they are getting a bargain, than with what they are saving/spending.

 

[robin]

what about the people who post animals "on sale" with the same exact price as they were before. those guys really make me laugh

 

[Grinning Geckos]

LOL...Maybe they confuse "on sale" with "for sale"?

 

[robin]

i dunno

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I guess I'll have to stop using CAPS in my ads...