Comments on: Computer Sellers Are Sneaky Little Bastards

By: ZeHa

ZeHa — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:20:32 +0000

Yeah, I think Juuso’s point is not that he’s angry over the purchase, he just wants to give some new examples of how you can market your stuff, or better, what kind of (psychological) things will help you

By: Oliver

Oliver — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:35:16 +0000

That’s what I wanted to say… we don’t care when it’s something we love. And that fact can be easily exploited (ethically, of course). :) Just look forward to your powermachine and be glad the bastards.. guys do their work. ;)

By: FreeFlashgames

FreeFlashgames — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:03:35 +0000

500-600 Euros is like 800-900 UDS right? You can get a decent Rig for that. I’d get a higher-end dual core with 2GB RAM and a mid-grade graphics card. You might want to lowball the audio though to get a better GFX card.

By: Juuso Hietalahti

Juuso Hietalahti — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:29:09 +0000

I don’t care how much profit they make, but I do care how much my brainwashed brain gets me to spend… ;)

By: Sargon

Sargon — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:23:37 +0000

Yea, but what do you care how much profit the stores are making as long as its a good deal for you?
Maybe you are trying to say, that due to the westren consumption culture, and all the brainwashing commercials. Then people buy stuff they don’t really need. Or their lifestyle is completly wrong on the first place.
However, when I buy a computer, if for another 40$ I can get a graphics card that is much better. Then its a good deal FOR ME.
Because the more powerfull my graphics card is, the better.
And again, if I buy a computer once every 5 years, then more 40$ really doesn’t make a difference for me.
Maybe instead of saying “This cost me 40$” you should say “this cost me 40$ per 5 years”
And then you can normalize all your spending to some sort of time frame, and see if your spending are rational or exagerrated.
But I agree that if you buy something you really don’t need, and it only cost you 1$, then its 1$ too much to pay for.

By: Juuso Hietalahti

Juuso Hietalahti — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:21:31 +0000

It can be similar in car purchases: when buying a $30 000 car, a small investment of $500 (or $1500 for that matter) doesn’t feel so big.

Or… when you buy a $300 000 house… $10 000 here or there doesn’t feel so much.

Or like Oliver pointed out: fast food. These stores might have like $6 meals, but with $6,70 you get megaversion…

By: Sargon

Sargon — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:20:10 +0000

Well, the “better graphics card” might be unnecessary for you.
But for other people it might be a good deal.
And then, you can’t accuse the salseperson, but rather yourself, for having big eyes.
I think computers is one of the areas when they really don’t scam you too much. Unless you are someone who is totally clueless, and then they sell you that 512MB graphics card, only that 256MB out of it are used by the card on the CPU memory(I think with DMA, if I know what I am talking about).
And besides, 20$ isn’t really a big difference. If you were buying a car, and you had to pay extra 10000$ for leather seats, then that would be substential.
But if you buy a computer once in 3 or 5 years, those extra 20$ won’t be too significant.
You need to take things in proportion.

By: Juuso Hietalahti

Juuso Hietalahti — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:17:44 +0000

Oliver: I’ve read the book and yes, I’m aware of that small price effect (that’s familiar also from marketing…). Nevertheless, with computers, my brain already knew that there are better options with smaller prices so this specific salesperson didn’t need to do anything… I was brainwashed years ago ;)

And even though I realize this – it won’t stop me from doing this same thing in the future. :)

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:23:48 +0000

Actually they did persuade you. They forced your brain to compare what might seem like small differences in the prices for each different part by telling you how much/little the better versions costs.
Take what the customer actually wants and squeeze out a little bit more by making harmless offers or reading out slightly higher prices for much better stuff to them. :)
Same with fast food.. do you want X with that? Costs only Y more. When you already buy a meal for $9 dollars, an extra dollar won’t hurt you, but it makes them rich because they are making the offer to many more people.
Have you read Influence by Robert Cialdini? Excellent book. ;)

By: DtD Software

DtD Software — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:20:43 +0000

I agree, I noticed the same thing when I was buying my ThinkPad. (Ooh, only $20 more for this…) I also get like a kid in a candy store in computer shops. (OoooOOooo! Shiny new memory sticks =D)
Then I remind myself that if my computers are too good, I won’t be sure if my games run right on older computers, or even the average computer XD

~DtD