31–40 of 226 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
You could just shop in China yourself (AliExpress)
Sure, and wait a month for an empty box to show up
I also never had empty or wrong products show up, and I shop nearly everything that is made in china anyway directly from ali. And assuming it would happen, I just get my money back thanks to escrow.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I realize the article mentions that sometimes happens, with their example being a 0.8oz deodorant. But as a frequent shopper it isn't my general experience. I often compare prices and on a unit cost basis (so controlling for the sometimes smaller dollar store quantities) you can almost always buy the same brand from a dollar store for a steep discount compared to a traditional supermarket or Target. In general I feel…
>>That's sometimes merited (payday loans!) That's also a very interesting discussion to have because from what I understand, payday loans businesses exist because the alternative is worse - people who are desperate will always borrow money from someone, so it's better that they borrow from a well regulated business rather than from the "pay or we'll break your legs" kind. And then the 1000% APR is argued that it's th…
On the other hand, rent-a-centers are disgusting. I remember when I was a kid I had calculated they wanted me to pay something like $3,000 for a $500 laptop. But the idea is you only need to give them $50 a week. I went and saved my money and found the absolute cheapest laptop I could, paying cash for it.
On a larger level, car loans are also extremely exploitive. No one needs a car which cost more than $20,000, but all these shiny ads show girls will swoon over you, men will respect you, as long as you buy a car which is $75,000 + tax and destination.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's not "expensive". Expensive is that I need to pay $1.99 for something and I have throw away half of it because I couldn't use it. I'd rather spend $0.99 for 1/3 the quantity. I am spending less money after all.
I think this point is underappreciated. Sometimes it definitely makes sense to pay more per unit/kg for some item for a smaller quantity if otherwise you'd be throwing out an excess
I bet CK thought these sampler sets would create incentive to buy one of their larger bottles, not make customers set for life on cologne.
Ah, I see, so they make quite a bit of their profit by selling smaller quantities of lower quality goods at higher per unit prices through framing the value proposition carefully and managing expectations to their benefit. Makes sense, given the markets they target, that they're exploiting the effects of the 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness and quite successfully too.
I realize the article mentions that sometimes happens, with their example being a 0.8oz deodorant. But as a frequent shopper it isn't my general experience. I often compare prices and on a unit cost basis (so controlling for the sometimes smaller dollar store quantities) you can almost always buy the same brand from a dollar store for a steep discount compared to a traditional supermarket or Target. In general I feel…
That doesn't mean they're the same product or quality, however.
Ah, I see, so they make quite a bit of their profit by selling smaller quantities of lower quality goods at higher per unit prices through framing the value proposition carefully and managing expectations to their benefit. Makes sense, given the markets they target, that they're exploiting the effects of the 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness and quite successfully too.
I realize the article mentions that sometimes happens, with their example being a 0.8oz deodorant. But as a frequent shopper it isn't my general experience. I often compare prices and on a unit cost basis (so controlling for the sometimes smaller dollar store quantities) you can almost always buy the same brand from a dollar store for a steep discount compared to a traditional supermarket or Target. In general I feel…
In the UK we have poundland which is the same idea. To be honest I love it. I get protein bars, chewing gum, cans of coke, milk and sweets cheaper than anywhere else.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I realize the article mentions that sometimes happens, with their example being a 0.8oz deodorant. But as a frequent shopper it isn't my general experience. I often compare prices and on a unit cost basis (so controlling for the sometimes smaller dollar store quantities) you can almost always buy the same brand from a dollar store for a steep discount compared to a traditional supermarket or Target. In general I feel…
> buy the same brand That doesn't mean they're the same product or quality, however.
If they wanted to do that then they would be better off creating a different lower cost brand, rather than a new manufacturing process for $ store items.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, and wait a month for an empty box to show up
AliExpress has escrow. You are essentially less likely to be screwed than with Amazon (no escrow, and still many shady sellers) I also never had empty or wrong products show up, and I shop nearly everything that is made in china anyway directly from ali. And assuming it would happen, I just get my money back thanks to escrow.