MemeCode - Blog

Marketing Ploys 101 For The Unwary

Date: 6/6/2005

Buying things online can be a wonderful way of saving some money and getting what you really want (except if it's this). For instance you could be attacted to a nice shiny new LCD, like a Dell 2005FPW which uses the same LCD component as the Apple 20" Cinema Display and thusly is an Object Of Desire.

And on sale at A$880 (at the time of writing this) it's the cheapest 20" LCD on the market. But look at the fine print: "Price inc. 20% Cash off *Online Store Price valid to 10/06/2005". Quick you'd better hurry it's about to end!

Well, that particular deal is about to end, only to be replaced by a very similar deal, which ends and is replaced by the exact same deal. The point being that it has been A$900 or A$880 for the last month on 1 week long sales. If you happen by the site doing your shopping and see that you'd be inclined to jump on a great bargin before the sale ends. Which is exactly the desired result Dell want by playing this marketing trick.

My advice to you is: Don't be suckered by end of sale dates. There will always be a better sale on in the near future. Just bide your time and buy when your ready, not when some supposed sale forces you to.

Comments:

tozz
06/06/2005 9:15pm

Funny how you should mention the Dell sale :)
I ordered a 2405FPW since my CRT is getting blurry and got it for $1100USD (converted loosely from swedish crowns). This was according to sales person a May only offer, "yeah yeah" I thought, it'll be the same price in June... Browsing the page... new price is $2100USD... yeah, that's a $1000USD increase in price. insane. But hey, I'm happy ;)

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