Pain of a Deal

The worth and/or value of a product is always based upon an individuals wants and needs. More than likely they are not always the same, but we have one thing in common. We’re always looking for a deal. This is why marketers have strategically embedded and used terms like: blowout sale, limited time offer, clearance sales to entice consumers. Emphasizing a sense of urgency that pushes the consumer to not only act but to act now, and sometimes even beyond our purchasing power. As consumers we try to stretch our purchasing power as much as we possibly can. However, with today’s media and sales tactics, how much are we really saving?  How thin does the line between need and want really become? It is hilarious at times when we try to find cunning ways to justify a purchase like, "it’s a never ever-ever-ever going to happen again deal”. My mom is a prime example, always justifying her purchases on the basis of a great deal or promotion.  She loves to buy in bulk, which stems a lot of the arguments that I have with her. It is unnecessary to always purchase in bulk. There are many people like my mom, who are going for those big packages under the assumption that in the long haul it is cheaper. That is not always the case; we assume that when purchasing large packaged items we are paying wholesale prices, however in fact sometimes when purchasing individual units and adding them up it could cost the same as buying in bulk. Clearance sales offers good deals on items that are reaching end of life and will no longer be restocked. Great, if you don't mind wearing last seasons clothing or having outdated electronics. The problem lies within the word itself.  It needs to go and it needs to go now; either because they're damaged, defective, three sizes too large for the average human being, or whatever the case maybe. Most of the time for me it's a struggle to find something useful in the clearance aisle. There is something about the word sale that trigger people to act out of the ordinary in a mad manner.  In my opinion it’s ridiculous and most of the time really not worth it. One of the most notorious sales at the end of the year; a majority of consumers are anticipating is the BLACK FRIDAY SALE. I participated in this senseless act in 2006 and will most likely never do it again. I was able to save roughly about $200 dollars that day on a new 42”inch flat panel LCD TV, but in retrospect the effort to save money it was not worth it at all. It was worth going out to Fry’s Electronic to save a couple of bucks but the experience was not worth it. I was aware of the conditions of the environment from tales of previous deal-seekers before partaking, but hearing about it is nothing compared to experiencing it. That day, I left my family Thanksgiving dinner early with my cousin to camp out at 6 o’clock p.m. outside the store.  When we arrived there was a sea of people already in line. We waited calmly in the winter cold for the doors to open at 5 a.m. As the clock ticked closer and closer to opening hours; people in line slowly began losing their patience and tensions to get in the store for the “awesome deals” began to rise. To sum up my experience that evening I was sitting outside in the cold, damp weather for approximately 8 hours. I came close to having a physical confrontation with another individual inside the store while waiting in line minding my own business, and not to mention I was extremely exhausted from lack of sleep. It was such a pain and simply just not worth it for me. Initially when it comes to store promotions and sales there are deals to be made and money to be saved no matter what strategy or gimmick there is, but it requires the consumer to be smart with their purchasing power and whether that deal is worth the pain.