Tuesday, March 13, 2012
New Pricing
One of the things that has been driving me crazy lately is the way stuff is priced. How often do you hear an advertisement that really tells the cost of an item. This morning on the radio, there was some company selling windows - a house full of new windows for as little as $69 a month - which means what? Is that $69 a month for a year ($828) or for the life of a 30 year mortgage ($24,840).
The other thing is gas mileage. How many times have you heard that the pickup in question will do 360 miles on one filling. What's the tank size? If it's a 10 gallon tank, I'm impressed -- if it's a 30 gallon tank, not so much. While not new, limited unlimited accounts are getting more popular. Which part of "unlimited" is in question?
We have a Macy's account that periodically sends out discount offers and cards. 10, 20, or even 30% off your purchase. However, in teeny-tiny print on the back of card is a really massive list of exceptions. I think in most cases you're left with about four items in the store you can actually use the discount on.
And I don't even want to get into the rent-to-buy and payday loan outfits. Why do you suppose they often seem related. I think the average payday loan usury is around 20-30% which is really great for those who can least afford it. And you can rent to buy a TV for something like $15.95 a month - but again they don't let you know for how many months in the ad.
The other thing is gas mileage. How many times have you heard that the pickup in question will do 360 miles on one filling. What's the tank size? If it's a 10 gallon tank, I'm impressed -- if it's a 30 gallon tank, not so much. While not new, limited unlimited accounts are getting more popular. Which part of "unlimited" is in question?
un·lim·it·edMy Virgin Mobile account is unlimited until I reach some nebulous amount when they throttle it down. However, I can't tell when I reach that account since according to the web site, my account is unlimited, therefore VirginMobile sees no reason for me to track my web use.
adj.
1. Having no restrictions or controls: an unlimited travel ticket.
2. Having or seeming to have no boundaries; infinite: an unlimited horizon.
3. Without qualification or exception; absolute: unlimited self-confidence.
We have a Macy's account that periodically sends out discount offers and cards. 10, 20, or even 30% off your purchase. However, in teeny-tiny print on the back of card is a really massive list of exceptions. I think in most cases you're left with about four items in the store you can actually use the discount on.
And I don't even want to get into the rent-to-buy and payday loan outfits. Why do you suppose they often seem related. I think the average payday loan usury is around 20-30% which is really great for those who can least afford it. And you can rent to buy a TV for something like $15.95 a month - but again they don't let you know for how many months in the ad.
