Payless
Posted by Cap in Stop Buying Crap! on December 2, 2005 |
From Ian Ybarra, a StopBuyingCrap.com field report
I was in Chicago with my girlfriend a few weeks ago. We slipped into a Payless Shoe Source to (depending on whom you ask) “kill some time” or “shop for shoes” before a show.
I saw another woman pick up a small handbag and rush it over to her boyfriend to show him what she found.
“What do you think?” she said.
“It’s nice,” he replied.
“I think it’s kind of cute. But it’s not quite what I was looking for.”
“What were you looking for?”
“I don’t know. But this is only $9.99, so maybe I should get it.”
She took the bag to the checkout counter and bought it. It was only $9.99.
Payless is making a fortune by selling crappy shoes and handbags that look a little snazzier than the crappy shoes and handbags at Wal-Mart because people who don’t know what they want anyway don’t worry about buying stuff that’s only $9.99.
Yeah, it’s only ten bucks, but it’s more than ten bucks when you’re buying crap you don’t need (or want, for that matter). It’s stupid.
8 Responses to “Payless”
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I hope I dont get seriously ill »
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December 2nd, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Just wanted to thank Ian for the email.
I actually have a running shoe from Payless that I bought for $13. heh. Still sporting it!
December 2nd, 2005 at 10:05 pm
Those $10 purchases add up in a hurry.
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:49 pm
Field reporter… hahaha awesome.
BTW, I’m a fan of Ian Ybarra’s blog and I think it’s badass that he’s working with Keith Ferrazzi. The excerpt from his about page about the book is money and everyone should read it:
http://www.fastcompany.com/bookclub/excerpts/0385512058.html
December 3rd, 2005 at 9:24 pm
Very true…wifey does that too, but normally she returns stuff she doesn’t really use so it’s great, she gets fulfilled by buying something and if she doesn’t use them she returns them so the cost is gas and time, better than $10 x 50 ;) I hope you don’t mind me adding it as a link…. I enjoy your articles…
December 4th, 2005 at 7:52 am
I’m not sure I totally agree. I think this would not be a financial mistake IF the woman knew that she could be happy with the bag because it cost so little. If, however, she finds what she was looking for a month down the road, it costs $300, and she buys it, THEN she stupidly wasted ten bucks.
December 6th, 2005 at 7:09 pm
jim: yeah I think its pretty cool that he works with Keith. Good link there, I’m still on hold for his book at the library. lol.
norman: oh boy I can totally relate to that. but the problem is I know too many people that say they’ll return it if they dont need it, but never bother to. adds up.
SMB: I get what you’re saying, but I’m pretty sure the lady in question here didn’t need the bag, and only got it because its “just 10 bucks.”
December 7th, 2005 at 12:06 pm
Yup, some people buy crap because they don’t know what they want.
December 7th, 2005 at 12:08 pm
Gotcha. There’s sure no denying that people do that!