2G18 - 12: Sale Culture

Vibing_V · Post by **Vibing_V** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:49 am

Posting a bit early because I'll be too busy/tired later on this week.

How do you feel about the sale culture that pervades the present day shopping experience? Sales, everywhere, all the time!

If it's not on sale, it's overpriced - wait for a sale.
What is the true value of something if it's always on sale?
How damned frustrating is it when you buy something at, say, 20% off and then the next day it goes down to 30% off?
What about the risk vs reward factor of waiting for a sale vs securing the item while it's still in stock? (What if it's sold out by the time a sale happens?)
How exhausting and time-wasting is it to plan around *sales*?
How does the enjoyment factor of bargain-hunting play into all this?
What about brands that don't do sales? How do they compare? What does that say about them?

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:58 am

Feed capitalism. The world will not work unless you feed capitalism.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:10 am

I don't know. I'm not big on the whole capitalist/commercial culture to begin with. As far as sales go, I sure make use of them. Often times I refuse to buy games until they go on sale or grt permanently discounted because paying a whole $60 or even $50 is somehow offensive to me for all but my most anticipated games. I definitely look for sales in regular shopping too but I don't go out of my way to make pyrchasing decisions for things like groceries based on sales. Like, I'll buy what's on sale when I can, but I'm not going to stock up or anything.

I can tell you that I complain about Nintendo on this all the time because I typically find that dropping prices and having good sales is less frequent for them than Sony. Other than that I'm notbsue I notice.

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 10:54 am

I just bought a bunch of udemy courses because they were 95% off.

I needed one but ended up buying six. Which still came well short of he regular price for one.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:36 pm

Like Gord, I will buy sales when grocery shopping where reasonable (ie, I need chickpeas, our capitalist society offers like 6 brands in one store, if one of those is on sale and thus cheapest, there's a good chance I'll go for it and get the probably false feeling that I'm "lucky").

I think of sales a little bit with video games I know I want. Like, there are several Switch eShop games I want and could buy all at once, but I'm holding out partly in hopes that some of them will be discounted between now and when I actually finish what I'm currently playing.

Also I buy Humble Indie Bundles compulsively, despite barely playing any of the games.

Stuff like Black Friday and Boxing Day I mostly avoid and find distasteful. But I can't claim I never take advantage of this stuff. We all like saving moneys.

My dad and his wife have a tendency to give gifts where it's clear they just saw a deal they couldn't pass up. Like they wanted something, but buying 4 of that was a better deal. That seems like it's verging on mental illness to me.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 2:12 pm

I don't generally feel like I got lucky when I get a sale. Generally, I feel more often like things are overpriced and the sale price is what it really "should" be. I mostly feel ripped off when I'm paying full price for stuff

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:20 pm

More like a mild "lucky this was on sale because I was gonna get it anyway." But on average I probably "save" the same percentage due to sales every time I get groceries, so any being-lucky feeling is pretty unfounded.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:17 pm

Yeah. A lot of the stuff I buy I'm going to buy regardless of whether or not it's on sale, but if it's not on sale I tend to feel like "what a ripoff." A lot of the stuff I buy in terms of groceries goes on sale a lot. Like I wouldn't say it's on sale the majority of the time, but you can expect it to go on sale several times a year, so it's never been off sale for terribly long. So when it is at full price, I'm grumbling about it.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:36 pm

There are certain things where sales significantly guide my purchase. Like if I feel like buying breakfast cereal, I basically just mentally filter out any cereals that aren't on sale.

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:01 pm

When I shop for groceries and am planning a meal (rare these days but still) I tend to find the principal ingredient based on what is on sale, then work outwards from there. I usually also swing by the section for common purchases to see if they're on sale that particular time so I can stock up, or pass if not available. Sales give that slight sensation of winning. You got what you wanted and paid less than other people. You win. Huzzah.

For videogames, unless I am super stoked for something, I usually buy on sale. Like Erik, I have a huge backlog of humble bundle games which is added to monthly.

Nowadays for phones and electronics I'll usually have what I specifically want in mind. Phones I'll usually get right away when it's time to upgrade, but it's usually 2 to 3 years between upgrades. Electronics it's usually more about quality; I'll have a specific brand or model in mind. If it goes on sale and it hasn't been replaced in my mind by a new brand or model then I'll go for it. Otherwise going for the cheapest options in electronics usually doesn't go well.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:17 pm

The bluetooth speaker I just bought from Best Buy was unexpectedly $40 off! There was a very discreet "$40 will be deducted from your total when you add this item to your cart" that I didn't notice. Weird thing to make discreet, but it was a pleasant surprise. Unexpected sale win!

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:22 pm

Was it this one?

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/ja ... 90788.aspx?

probably not

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:53 pm

haha no it was this holy hand grenade looking thing ("Wonderboom"), only black and white instead of grey and yellow.

It sounds great! And as a bonus I'm unlikely to need much, it's waterproof.

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:17 pm

Impromptu pool parties. You will be all set (except for perhaps swim trunks).

I got Worms as part of a humble bundle for Android, but it can never find matches online.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:57 pm

Thrilling update: I'm really liking that speaker!

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 2:19 am

Meals are usually planned around what costs less at the time. I actually have a spreadsheet on my phone that has price comparisons for staple items both over time and at different stores, so I can find the best prices, and so I can tell when something's an actual price drop and what's a fake sale. I often buy non-perishables in bulk when they do go on sale, and if nuclear war happens, I have enough to last whoever kills me in my sleep about 1-2 months.

I have 30 gallons worth of fuel tanks in my garage. When fuel prices drop below a certain threshold, I'll fill up both of our cars and the tanks. Sometimes it's difficult to anticipate when prices bottom out, but I did the math once, and over time, this has saved me about $10-30 per each time I do this, versus just filling up our cars when they're running low. I usually buy motor oil and engine oil/air filters in bulk and wait for price drops, until a car is within a year or two of the end of its usable life.

I try to plan large purchases ahead so I can look for deals. I use sites like camelcamelcamel, slickdeals, and IFTTT to find deals on things I'm planning to purchase, but that are not regular expenses and that I'm in no hurry to get.

All of this is mildly annoying to me, but I've done it long enough that it's more habit than a bothersome chore.

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 11:36 pm

Mitsurugi CP wrote:Meals are usually planned around what costs less at the time. I actually have a spreadsheet on my phone that has price comparisons for staple items both over time and at different stores, so I can find the best prices, and so I can tell when something's an actual price drop and what's a fake sale. I often buy non-perishables in bulk when they do go on sale, and if nuclear war happens, I have enough to last whoever kills me in my sleep about 1-2 months.

I have 30 gallons worth of fuel tanks in my garage. When fuel prices drop below a certain threshold, I'll fill up both of our cars and the tanks. Sometimes it's difficult to anticipate when prices bottom out, but I did the math once, and over time, this has saved me about $10-30 per each time I do this, versus just filling up our cars when they're running low. I usually buy motor oil and engine oil/air filters in bulk and wait for price drops, until a car is within a year or two of the end of its usable life.

I try to plan large purchases ahead so I can look for deals. I use sites like camelcamelcamel, slickdeals, and IFTTT to find deals on things I'm planning to purchase, but that are not regular expenses and that I'm in no hurry to get.

All of this is mildly annoying to me, but I've done it long enough that it's more habit than a bothersome chore.

damn man. i'm officially handing over my chinese shopper card

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 11:43 pm

correction. i take that back. last step to get it is to successfully haggle in a chain store.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 12:53 am

For you? sixman.

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:05 am

I didn't think "haggle" and "chain store" would be in the same sentence unless they were also accompanied by "unsuccessfully".

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:26 am

That's why it's an achievement. If anybody could do it, it wouldn't be special.

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:36 am

At the age of 6 i talked down a floor model of a power wheels jeep at home hardware.

Dad said if I could get it down from 160 to 80 then he'd get it for me. Mission was accomplished. Had wheels and picked up girls.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:20 am

Haha 160 to 80, jesus.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 4:08 am

How the heck did you manage that one?

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 8:43 am

This must be the awesome and terrible power of that card.

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Tue Mar 27, 2018 12:05 am

I was small, adorable and relentless. They sold me the assembled floor model since it was technically "used".

Enjoyed thoroughly!

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:01 am

So this year, lots of places here are already doing their "Black Friday" sale. Why the hell try to copy America when you clearly wanna do your own thing?

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:28 am

We started copying America with Black Friday in Canada a couple of years ago.

But here’s what happened out of this. Before you could actually get decent deals. Nowadays the deals suck ok both days because there are two sale EVENTS you cannot miss!

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:47 am

I think places here have gotten wise to people getting wise, so some retailers have big signs with "BLACK FRIDAY PRICES NOW" scrawled across them, and smallprint, promising a refund of the difference if the price ends up being cheaper on actual Black Friday. I guess too many shoppers were holding back for Black Friday and it was denting their sales.

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 12:26 pm

I was waiting for DQXI to go on sale to buy it
It is on sale
I bought it

It should be done downloading by 2G19

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 1:43 pm

Seem like everywhere here has followed suit with their "Black Friday" sales and are already doing them, but still calling them "Black Friday"

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 2:15 pm

As of yesterday, both people in this household own fine, expensive, Quebec-made winter coats.

No sale was involved, but... something was sold.

Cid · Post by **Cid** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 7:27 pm

I'm waiting for Black Friday/Cyber Monday to mass purchase the components of my new PC. Other than that I've never cared about it at all, except the year I forgot it was black friday and went to the store for a drink in the middle of the night only to witness C H A O S.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Fri Nov 16, 2018 7:41 am

Is Amazon in America doing Black Friday today, or is that just here?

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:07 am

Check out how much Black Friday shit there is right now!
https://www.hotukdeals.com

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Sat Nov 17, 2018 11:13 am

Damien wrote:Is Amazon in America doing Black Friday today, or is that just here?

Yeah, it's advertising Black Friday stuff along with everyone else. Also, Cyber Monday, followed by the random "we didn't meet our sales targets so we're advertising the Black Friday sales for one more day!" sales.

WaWard · Post by **WaWard** » Sat Nov 17, 2018 2:19 pm

Did you know that French amazon Canada translates Black Friday to Crazy Friday

gintanto · Post by **gintanto** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:55 am

I don't think it's a new thing. One of my favorite sayings from my grandfather was "I can't afford to save that much". (the reaction when you hear a number about how much you can save and it's so far out of proportion with what you would have been willing to spend on the thing anyway that it blows your mind a bit).

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:02 am

So today, November 4th, I heard a radio advert from Tesco informing that their “Black Friday sale is now on”. I guess November is now known as “Black Friday”.

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:31 pm

The RDM is pretty sure Walmart started their Black Friday nonsense a week or so ago.

HP has been sending the RDM emails about Black Friday preview deals.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:37 pm

They really need to rename it, or restrict it to one Friday.

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:44 pm

Words don't mean things anymore. Language is dead. All hail consumerism.

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Fri Nov 08, 2019 12:32 am

This month shall now be known as Novemblack.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Fri Nov 08, 2019 4:47 am

Black Friday sales never really look interesting to me anyway. Either the savings are extremely overhyped or they just don't have the sales on the kinds of things I'd typically buy. Maybe a bit of both.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Fri Nov 08, 2019 7:04 am

I got my PS4 on an "early Black Friday" sale back in 2G14, around when they started doing Black Friday here. They'd probably have had a pre Christmas price reduction anyway though.

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:48 am

The RDM's wife god a tablet Black Friday deal yesterday. There were all sorts of guarantees that the prices aren't getting any lower.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:29 pm

Yeah. Some people aren't entirely stupid, and I guess sales on certain products slow towards the middle of November, so places are now regularly having to explicitly state that their price is guaranteed not to go lower on Black Friday.

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:35 pm

It's actually a refreshing thing to deal with. "This is the sale. There is no secret sale coming later. You don't have to lose your mind on this one specific day to get the best price, you can just get it whenever." It's almost like we're moving into a new phase where some aspects of consumerism are less ridiculous.

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:35 pm

It's actually a refreshing thing to deal with. "This is the sale. There is no secret sale coming later. You don't have to lose your mind on this one specific day to get the best price, you can just get it whenever." It's almost like we're moving into a new phase where some aspects of consumerism are less ridiculous.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:59 pm

Just moving back to how it was 10 years ago (here at least, before Amazon dragged Black Friday across the Atlantic).