Mad at myself, I nickel and dimed!

So, grrr.

I was in BR and picked up a T shirt from a table marked 40% off. It was a great slightly olive green color but otherwise just a basic T. Last summer I had one very close to that color but in a more dressy style that I wore plain out and wished I had duplicated I liked it so much.

So here was this good but not great semi-replacement at 40% off and it looked decent on. When I went to check out it rang up at full price and they said the sign was on the wrong table. So I said I didn't want it $40 worth, I had wanted it $20 worth, and started to walk away. They called me back and gave me the 40% off so I bought it, feeling all glad I had spoken up, yay me. It wasn't until I was driving home that it hit me...why did I buy something for $25 that I wasn't willing to buy for $40. Aren't we supposed to not do that...sales goggles and all?

Oh well, I don't think I will return. I will wear it and it will get use, but Mo, you are so right. If it wasn't worth paying much for, why did I buy it at all?

11 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

I think a lot of pricing is arbitrary. If you'll wear it, I say enjoy, you got a bargain.

(website)

ah, yes. Obviously sales work, or they wouldn't ply us with them. I agree with IK, if it fills the hole and you will actually wear it, good for you. Now, if you passed up one you really wanted to instead buy this one simply because it was cheaper . . . that's where the pitfalls really begin IMO.

always trying

agree with ironkurtin-pricing is arbitrary. my practice is -do I like it x number of $$$$ worth. if it is on sale and I see its regular price and would pay regular price then yippee a bargain. If I do not like it enough to pay the high price then evaluate it at its sale price. Since I am learning to control my shoe purchase impulses, they are carrying over into clothing too, although they were never as bad as the shoe impulse buying..Now everything gets evaluated as to want, need, fit into my style, etc. One thing I am learning to do is -if it is not something that has a definite place in my wardrobe, do not think it will get its share of wearing-DO NOT even try it on!--just pass on by, because if it fits and looks good on then is harder ti not buy it!

cheryl

Don't be yourself up. You got a great deal and you love the color. Wear it and enjoy.

Peri

Okay, I do see the difference. I like it $25 worth and I didn't pass on a better one I could have bought instead. (At least not yet! Haven't seen a better one).

Thanks for the wisdom!

Gaylene

Hmm, I've always thought "sales goggles" referred to those things we buy because of the price BUT which hang in our closets because they don't really work for our life or our style.

In your case, you put a dollar amount on what the item would be worth to you, which, I think, is entirely different. If you would have purchased the top at full price, then you'd have scored a bargain by paying only $25 for it, but, if you would only purchase the top if was in the $20-25 dollar range, then you paid exactly what the item was worth to you--sale or no sale.

rabbit

I think evaluate it on its own merits -- will it fill the same hole as the dressier shirt you had, or will it not work as well/look as good? If not, return it. If it will fill the hole or has even more expanded uses, keep it and enjoy.

Every time I look at a plain standard cut t-shirt in regular cotton or cotton/spandex in the unmarked down price range I have Macklemore going through my head "fifty dollars for a t-shirt is some ignorant @#*%" so there's a point when my comfort level with pricing kicks in for me.

I mean you can pay more, but what is the added benefit you are getting exactly? If you know in the case of a t-shirt and can quantify it -- resale value, more appealing design, green/humane/local production, durability or comfort from past experience, great! But if you don't know, and nebulously associate higher prices with better value, I think for me that can be misleading.

Or what Gaylene said, for every usable, necessary item, I think: what is it worth to me?

Thistle

What Gaylene said.

And, better to do a bit of thinking through this on a $25 purchase than on, say, a winter coat.

Gigi

I think there is a lot of wisdom here. Not everything we buy has to be absolutely perfect. That's quite impossible, no matter how hard we try! So you didn't find "the one" with this tee...but you found something that will work well enough for the price you paid for it.

I think we all do this occasionally. We have a wardrobe hole and we want to fill it. We buy what we think will work for the money. I think the problem comes when that's a huge guiding force in our shopping habits, in other words, when we *always* shop the clearance rack or the cheap stores or whatever and unnecessarily limit ourselves. Angie in her blog post today talked about pairing high-end items with low-end ones. We all need some low-end (or I would call this midrange) pieces in our closets!

Susie

I recently needed a tank to wear with a sheer Eileen Fisher top that I got on ebay (at a really good price.) I bought a $25 tank that was ok in color- it would go ok but definitely didn't match.

Then I realized I should look on ebay for a tank in the same color. I found one for $40 and ordered it. I will return the first one.

That first one was good enough at $25 but for $40 I could get one that will be even better (not just the color but probably quality too). So to me the difference in price is not worth settling; that would be a bad case of nickel and diming it.

Beth Ann

How wise of you to replay your purchase and evaluate your thinking! Sounds like you made a reasonable exchange of money for wardrobe servicability. It's good to be reminded, though, to ask yourself if you're "settling" for something "meh" when you want something fab, just because of price. In this case, however, when you're talking about a good, simple tee, I think you made a reasonable decision. If you found an amazing $40 green tee in four weeks, you could probably still afford to purchase it, too, and you most likely have room for both in your closet. If it fit poorly, or was not right for your wardrobe (Oh, and I have done that), then we'd half to talk, hee!

Julie

Active Member

For me, it wouldn't be that it wouldn't be worth the $40. Even if I was desperate for the item I would not buy it if the price was higher than advertised. If they have left the sale sign on the table, they need to honour that!

Isabel

I usually feel the same way : if you won't pay full price, then why is it a great deal at a discount ? I feel that way about blazers, boots, some sweaters, for example.

BUT, I think that there is a bit of a spectrum for items on this. No ? If it is something that is nothing really special and that you don't wear to death as a core item and you think that you can get it at a cheaper price or even do without it, why NOT get a deal ? I feel this way about a fun impulse buy. Why not ? It is a great way to add a little something, something.

You should feel good about that.

catgirl

I've been thinking about your post, Peri! I don't think it's an either/or situation. I often wait for something to go on sale because I can't afford it at full price - though I would gladly pay full price if I could. And I buy "tide-over" items which save me the time of searching when I don't have that time available at the moment. Enjoy your item!

Alassë

Exactly what Una said. You did okay.

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