Comments on: That Price Tag Is A Liar http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/that-price-tag-is-a-liar/ Wise Choices. Improved Finances. A Better Life. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:01:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pilgrim http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/that-price-tag-is-a-liar/comment-page-1/#comment-8566 Pilgrim Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:43:19 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=544#comment-8566 You are so right on with that. I laughed when reading the message, because by the time I think to mail in the rebate it is too late. I just wait to find the right deals. Thanks. You are so right on with that. I laughed when reading the message, because by the time I think to mail in the rebate it is too late. I just wait to find the right deals. Thanks.

]]> By: Hidden Costs of Items, Launch A Startup at 13 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/that-price-tag-is-a-liar/comment-page-1/#comment-8564 Hidden Costs of Items, Launch A Startup at 13 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:34:29 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=544#comment-8564 [...] The Wisdom Journal sheds light on the hidden costs of common items. Do you know what’s built into a typical price tag? [...] [...] The Wisdom Journal sheds light on the hidden costs of common items. Do you know what’s built into a typical price tag? [...]

»crosslinked«

]]> By: Admin http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/that-price-tag-is-a-liar/comment-page-1/#comment-8563 Admin Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:16:55 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=544#comment-8563 I absolutely DESPISE mail in rebates. What is the point? I guess it's that the retailer or manufacturer can advertise a lower price and count on X percent of the people mailing in the rebate forms too late, Y percent not following the instructions to the letter, and Z percent losing their receipts. Oh yeah, another large percentage of the people are just too lazy to go through the hassle. It sounds somewhat like a bait and switch, except for that tiny, tiny print that excuses their tactics. What about the percentage (like me) who move on to another retailer or manufacturer who doesn't use these methods? Has anyone got any numbers on that? I absolutely DESPISE mail in rebates. What is the point? I guess it’s that the retailer or manufacturer can advertise a lower price and count on X percent of the people mailing in the rebate forms too late, Y percent not following the instructions to the letter, and Z percent losing their receipts. Oh yeah, another large percentage of the people are just too lazy to go through the hassle. It sounds somewhat like a bait and switch, except for that tiny, tiny print that excuses their tactics.

What about the percentage (like me) who move on to another retailer or manufacturer who doesn’t use these methods? Has anyone got any numbers on that?

]]> By: Aleksandar M. Velkoski http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/that-price-tag-is-a-liar/comment-page-1/#comment-8561 Aleksandar M. Velkoski Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:46:41 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=544#comment-8561 Good points. And, I'm not a big fan of mail-in-rebates at all. Price tags are very misleading. Good points. And, I’m not a big fan of mail-in-rebates at all. Price tags are very misleading.

]]> By: abigail http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/that-price-tag-is-a-liar/comment-page-1/#comment-8560 abigail Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:41:37 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=544#comment-8560 Definitely good points. I was very annoyed by cell companies recently -- particularly T-Mobile, which is our current provider. For new cell phones, there's a price. First off, most of those were after mail-in rebate. So, right away, you're having to fork over cash and then wait to get it back and make the phone free. Meanwhile, that money could be used elsewhere. Second, the prices were all for two-year contracts. Add $50 to the price for a one-year contract. This, actually, I think is a fair deal. I'd rather pay an extra $50 for a phone and be stuck for just one year, versus potentially paying $150 to cancel partway through a two-year contract. But it's still another adjustment I have to make in my head. Third, the prices for the two-year contract were only if you included a data plan. Add -- you guessed it -- another $50 on if you refuse to pay $25-35 per month for internet access you can get at home on a regular-sized screen. Paying $35/month would increase our total cell bill by almost 50% (and that's only because it's a family plan -- technically our share is just $10/month). So, to buy a "free" phone, I'd be looking at chunking down $150-200: $50 for the phone without a data plan, $50 for a one-year contract, and $50-100 that would come back to me in a rebate. Seriously?! Definitely good points. I was very annoyed by cell companies recently — particularly T-Mobile, which is our current provider. For new cell phones, there’s a price.

First off, most of those were after mail-in rebate. So, right away, you’re having to fork over cash and then wait to get it back and make the phone free. Meanwhile, that money could be used elsewhere.

Second, the prices were all for two-year contracts. Add $50 to the price for a one-year contract. This, actually, I think is a fair deal. I’d rather pay an extra $50 for a phone and be stuck for just one year, versus potentially paying $150 to cancel partway through a two-year contract. But it’s still another adjustment I have to make in my head.

Third, the prices for the two-year contract were only if you included a data plan. Add — you guessed it — another $50 on if you refuse to pay $25-35 per month for internet access you can get at home on a regular-sized screen. Paying $35/month would increase our total cell bill by almost 50% (and that’s only because it’s a family plan — technically our share is just $10/month).

So, to buy a “free” phone, I’d be looking at chunking down $150-200: $50 for the phone without a data plan, $50 for a one-year contract, and $50-100 that would come back to me in a rebate.

Seriously?!

]]>