Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Never Enough Until You've Got All The Stuff...

The Farm Boys often tells me that I am a marketing department's dream. A true delight. In fact, I know they literally salivate, just thinking about what a sucker I am.

Picture a team sitting down to compose their company's latest ad campaign, thinking, "What would get that Grumpy Frump person in the store to spend all her money?"

Well, since you asked...

  • Buy One, Get One Free
    ... that seems pretty fair. If I want or need the item, I'm going for that 100% of the time. If I don't need or want it, I'll still go for it about 50-75% of the time.
  • Buy One, Get a Second for 50%
    ... not as good as the second item for free, but still a pretty good deal. I bought six pairs of pants the other day for the price of four and half pairs. I'm still ahead in that deal, plus I desperately needed the pants.
  • Spend $X or more and receive FREE SHIPPING!
    This is the one that always gets me. I get all excited -Free Shipping? Score! W00T!! A couple of weeks ago, this was the offer at Sephora. All I wanted was some new lip gloss (trying some of whoorl's suggestions). My total was about $50. It I searched around for more items to purchase to tip me over the $75 mark Sephora had set (like THAT would be difficult). After a while, it dawned on me that I was about to spend $25 more for things I didn't really need, just to avoid a shipping fee that would be less than $10. I didn't take the offer this time. But I was this close.
  • 2-For $X, 3-For $X...
    If you make the math easy for me, I'll buy it. Items that are usually 10.99 each, but are now an amazing "2 for $20," color me SOLD. CheezIts- 3 for $5? Oh yeah. They're in the cart. This is the main reason I rarely leave Target without spending at least $100-200.
  • Spend $X, and we'll throw in a FREE [nice, but usually very inexpensive item]!
    I'm a goner for this ad strategy. Food, makeup, perfume... it doesn't matter. Vickie S usually does this to me. I need VS lotion, but I will inevitably bring home lotion, perfume, and a cute little bag. Meals delivered to my door... buy at least two, and get an extra FREE meal. You got it. I look at it as savings, but sometimes I'll spend more just to get the free stuff. Obviously, this is not resulting in any savings at all.
Email and online ordering have only compounded the problem for me. If I have to drag my butt out to the mall, I might not grab the bait every time. But if the ad comes in an email? And it only takes me 5 minutes to browse, click "Add to My Cart", and hit "Submit My Order" online? SOLD!

Does anyone else do this? The Farm Boy thinks I have a sickness.

If I only purchased items when they were on sale, I don't think it would be that big of a deal. But I buy things even when they're not involved in some special offer. So, my "sale" purchases are in addition to all the other things I just have to have.

Hello. My name is Grumpy F., and I am a compulsive shopper.

14 comments:

M.Amanda said...

Barnes & Noble totally gets me every time with their "Free Shipping for Orders Over $25" thing. But...but...you don't expect me to pay shipping for BOOKS, do you? Besides, I'll buy those books eventually anyway, so I might as well save on the shipping by combining a couple months worth of purchases, right? And no, there is no such thing as having too many books in one house.

Mair said...

Hi, my name is Malia, and now I want some Cheez-Its.

metalia said...

HA! I. am. you.

The thing that makes Sephora even MORE awesome (if that's even possible) is that even if I'm hemming and hawing over whether to get something from them online, I always end up getting it because when you checkout, you get to select some free samples. Hello? I'm not made of stone!

Ludicrousity said...

Wow! You are a sucker! They always make things sound so much more impressive. Although I did buy a half price top yesterday. But I did go shopping with the intent of buying a top. But I did buy cheap sale jewelry too... Ok, so I'm a sucker too now that I think about it. But not as bad as I used to be!

don't call me MA'AM said...

sparkling: me TOO! It doesn't matter if I'm in the store or online. I can't stop buying books. Library Schmibrary.

maliavale: AHAHA!! That made me laugh out loud!

metalia: I know... in fact, I'm wearing one of the perfume samples right now. :-)

ludi: it sounds like you're able to exercise a little constraint, at least. That's a good thing!

libragirl: Ack. The number of times that I've left Target forgetting the things I was there for... I feel your pain, sister.

stinkypaw said...

You are not alone... HUbby often tells me I don't need to spend to get something for half price... We get discount at a local bookstore and when I renewed my membership they gave me $5. off my next $35 purchase...I walked around the store for a while, looking for something to find... "don't need to spend money to get $5 bucks off" - I hate that!

Amazon gets me with their free shipping, oy!

...hi... my name is...

Anonymous said...

The only thing I'm NOT a sucker for is 15% off. That is NOT A SALE, people.

But my favorite is buy one, get one. You hardly see that anymore!

lizgwiz said...

I love a good deal. I rarely buy anything at full price. Unless, by doing so, I can get something else at a fabulously reduced rate. Free shipping doesn't really do it for me, though--I EXPECT free shipping if I spend a certain amount. I"m a total sucker for Borders Rewards coupons--30% off a BOOK? Out of my way!

Paisley said...

I'm a sucker for Amazon's SPEND $6.74 MORE AND GET SUPER SAVER SHIPPING ON THIS ORDER. And since you can't find anyting for $6.74 I end up spending probably as much as if I just paid for shipping to begin with. But hey, I got something extry!

Two for one. Dude.

hannah said...

as someone who works in marketing...dcmm, you are ripe for the pickin'

don't call me MA'AM said...

stinkypaw: I can't resist books! Any discounts (B&N sends me lots of coupons), and I'm in the store or shopping online immediately. Love them!

nabbalicious: I agree... it's kind of like the $5 coupon for Vickie S. A rip off. You're right...other than Payless Shoes, there's very little buy one, get one anymore. Gah.

lizgwiz: oh yeah. 30% off a book means I can buy two books, right?!?!

paisley: something 'extry' is always a very, VERY good thing. Me likey free samples, too. That's my favorite thing about Sephora and Kiehls!!!

hannah: shhh... please don't tell. ;-)

wire said...

i think FB might be right - it's a sickness :)

don't call me MA'AM said...

wire: so, what's the cure? More cowbell????

wire said...

Only being allowed to shop at The Reject Shop and NQR (Not Quite Right).