Comments on: Everyone loves a good bargain! http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/ Adam Gilbert's Entertaining Ideas on Business & Life. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:47:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Guru Gilbert » Life is one Giant Placebo http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-12823 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:06:16 +0000 http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-12823 [...] This is nothing new. [...] […] This is nothing new. […]

]]> by: Adam http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-116 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:14:39 +0000 http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-116 Just wondering where you got your "60% of off-brand items" figure, and if you know it to be true specifically for Quaker oats - are they the same stuff, from the same place, as the off-brand oatmeal? Thanks. Just wondering where you got your “60% of off-brand items” figure, and if you know it to be true specifically for Quaker oats - are they the same stuff, from the same place, as the off-brand oatmeal? Thanks.

]]> by: Adam Gilbert http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-49 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 22:46:11 +0000 http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-49 A.R.M, I have no idea who you are but I really appreciate your very thoughtful comment and kind words! I agree with many things you said. As far as my bold statement saying “Our” as opposed to “My” I was referring to the people I was with. But, I also believe ‘we’ have been groomed through advertising our entire lives that if a product is on TV and becomes and is a name brand than it’s better than any generic. As my team member was stuffing her cart with items (34 of them but who’s counting) she kept saying things like, “Something has to be wrong with it," "It won’t last," "You get what you pay for," "It’s definitely spoiled.” Those are all statements she was saying as she couldn’t control herself and prove how effective advertising has been to make people really think that. As you pity these people I find it interesting and fascinating because this same girl was wearing shoes that cost no less than $300. As far as my shopping goes I wish there was a dollar store in NYC. I was in Delaware at the time and didn’t feel like bringing everything back with me. I happen to buy items like that at Costco in bulk but am certainly not too proud to shop at a dollar store. Your question if I would travel to a dollar store when I do need these necessities all depends. Would I drive 20 miles to save 10 cents on gas. Probably not. Time is money. A.R.M,

I have no idea who you are but I really appreciate your very thoughtful comment and kind words!

I agree with many things you said.

As far as my bold statement saying “Our” as opposed to “My” I was referring to the people I was with. But, I also believe ‘we’ have been groomed through advertising our entire lives that if a product is on TV and becomes and is a name brand than it’s better than any generic.

As my team member was stuffing her cart with items (34 of them but who’s counting) she kept saying things like, “Something has to be wrong with it,” “It won’t last,” “You get what you pay for,” “It’s definitely spoiled.” Those are all statements she was saying as she couldn’t control herself and prove how effective advertising has been to make people really think that.

As you pity these people I find it interesting and fascinating because this same girl was wearing shoes that cost no less than $300.

As far as my shopping goes I wish there was a dollar store in NYC. I was in Delaware at the time and didn’t feel like bringing everything back with me. I happen to buy items like that at Costco in bulk but am certainly not too proud to shop at a dollar store.

Your question if I would travel to a dollar store when I do need these necessities all depends. Would I drive 20 miles to save 10 cents on gas. Probably not.

Time is money.

]]> by: A.R.M http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-47 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:02:48 +0000 http://gurugilbert.com/2006/10/19/everyone-loves-a-good-bargain/#comment-47 Let me preface this by saying I read your blog often and am constantly nodding my head positively, admiring of what you say. I appreciate the time you put into your writing and enjoy checking GuruGilbert and seeing new entries. It is apparent that you genuinely want to help those who have the same entrepreneurial spirit that you do. After reading about your experience at the Dollar Tree and hearing your one sided thought on how people do not feel great about their purchase if it is "generic" or inexpensive, I must disagree with your bold statement. When referring to how people feel when we only pay $1 for a product you said “These are all thoughts that go through our minds" I disagree with the "OUR" and argue that this is what goes through YOUR mind, or if not your mind, then I presume you are talking about the minds of most people. I make a very nice living for myself and am a person who likes and appreciates nice things. If you were to look in my closet all of my Juicy Couture was bought on EBAY at half the retail price, my laundry room is stocked with all the Walgreens brand detergent and cleaners, my furniture is all used, even my comforter I waited to go on sale at Anthropologie for 40% off before buying it. All of my home accessories are from Home Goods or Target and my socks are 24 packs from BJ's. I am just as happy (if not more) with my bargains as another person would be with their expensive purchases. Some people (like me) get a thrill from a steal and actually feel better about spending less than spending more. I get satisfaction out of buying the Duane Reade Adhesive Strips instead of Band-Aids and saving a whole $2, and buying Duane Reade wetting drops instead of Visine. Maybe you agree with me...maybe you don't...I would be the person at the dollar store with my cart filled (with things I need of course) very excited about getting such a bargain and not caring who made it. Your quote: "It’s amazing to observe the two different extremes; lack of self control in buying expensive items and in buying cheap items" fascinated me. Some people cannot control themselves and buy things they cannot afford...those people I pity. Those people simply do not have their priorities straight (not to mention their finances!) and need to recognize that the expense of an item is not what will bring them permanent happiness. The thrill of an expensive purchase is temporary until they forget how good they feel and make another expensive purchase. It is a viscous cycle that only hurts them in the end. They need to realize that material does not determine success and that success is a state of mind. I see that you bought two things...so I am assuming you are an advocate of inexpensive things and have self control at the same time. I am wondering why you didn’t buy your necessities at the Dollar Tree while you were there. (ie:toothbrush, box of tissues, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, etc) When you do indeed need these things, are you going to travel a far distance to the dollar store OR spend an extra buck or two and go for the convenience at the Duane Reade or CVS that is on every corner? Keep up the good work...you have me constantly thinking. Let me preface this by saying I read your blog often and am constantly nodding my head positively, admiring of what you say. I appreciate the time you put into your writing and enjoy checking GuruGilbert and seeing new entries. It is apparent that you genuinely want to help those who have the same entrepreneurial spirit that you do.
After reading about your experience at the Dollar Tree and hearing your one sided thought on how people do not feel great about their purchase if it is “generic” or inexpensive, I must disagree with your bold statement. When referring to how people feel when we only pay $1 for a product you said “These are all thoughts that go through our minds” I disagree with the “OUR” and argue that this is what goes through YOUR mind, or if not your mind, then I presume you are talking about the minds of most people.
I make a very nice living for myself and am a person who likes and appreciates nice things. If you were to look in my closet all of my Juicy Couture was bought on EBAY at half the retail price, my laundry room is stocked with all the Walgreens brand detergent and cleaners, my furniture is all used, even my comforter I waited to go on sale at Anthropologie for 40% off before buying it. All of my home accessories are from Home Goods or Target and my socks are 24 packs from BJ’s. I am just as happy (if not more) with my bargains as another person would be with their expensive purchases.
Some people (like me) get a thrill from a steal and actually feel better about spending less than spending more. I get satisfaction out of buying the Duane Reade Adhesive Strips instead of Band-Aids and saving a whole $2, and buying Duane Reade wetting drops instead of Visine. Maybe you agree with me…maybe you don’t…I would be the person at the dollar store with my cart filled (with things I need of course) very excited about getting such a bargain and not caring who made it. Your quote: “It’s amazing to observe the two different extremes; lack of self control in buying expensive items and in buying cheap items” fascinated me. Some people cannot control themselves and buy things they cannot afford…those people I pity. Those people simply do not have their priorities straight (not to mention their finances!) and need to recognize that the expense of an item is not what will bring them permanent happiness. The thrill of an expensive purchase is temporary until they forget how good they feel and make another expensive purchase. It is a viscous cycle that only hurts them in the end. They need to realize that material does not determine success and that success is a state of mind.
I see that you bought two things…so I am assuming you are an advocate of inexpensive things and have self control at the same time. I am wondering why you didn’t buy your necessities at the Dollar Tree while you were there. (ie:toothbrush, box of tissues, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, etc) When you do indeed need these things, are you going to travel a far distance to the dollar store OR spend an extra buck or two and go for the convenience at the Duane Reade or CVS that is on every corner? Keep up the good work…you have me constantly thinking.

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