Berry, Berry Funny

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Watching an ad for the Ninja 1100 "kitchen system." The announcer says they have "slashed" -- get it, slashed! -- the price under $200. It turns out it is only 5 easy payments of $39.95. Then he says that they've eliminated one of those payments, leaving you only four.

Why did they stop at "eliminating" one? Why not announce it is "Only two hundred easy payments of $39.95," and then boast "But we've eliminated 196 of them!"

I guess the ploy would become too transparent.

Comments

  1. Rob Smith10:08 AM

    I don;t get it. Did this just come out? Was it not the case that there wer originally 5 "easy" payments? If yes, then your point seems to fall away. If not, then what the hell are they saying? That they changed the price during a board meeting?

    ReplyDelete
  2. gcallah10:52 AM

    'Was it not the case that there wer originally 5 "easy" payments?'

    I think not. I believe this is the same gig as the TV ads that say the product is "worth" $200 but can be yours for only $49.95 -- it's just a trick to make the gullible think they are getting a bargain.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Silas Barta11:23 AM

    You still watch TV? Did you take up a self-flagellation regimen or something? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous1:27 PM

    I love these high concept designs.

    A combination blender, food processor, and mixer. for the same price as you could buy all three for! and with almost the same quality and performance!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous1:28 PM

    I love these high concept designs.

    A combination blender, food processor, and mixer. for the same price as you could buy all three for! and with almost the same quality and performance!

    ReplyDelete
  6. gcallah3:34 PM

    OK, Silas, we'll try again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Scott Lahti8:26 PM

    Here's one way of getting a bargain - find as I just did, on your local supermarket's web site, a 6-pound ham listed at 39 cents a pound, or $2.39 total. In the emails I received in reply, read *1/2 ham*, not *12" ham*; we turn you now over to the chain's Consumer Research Specialist, and to the local store's Fresh Assistant Store Manager (nice of them to send me a Fresh one), respectab-, I say, respectively, the first at 3:17 pm Eastern and the second at 3:18:

    Dear DSL.:

    Thank you for your recent email. We value your input and are glad to have the opportunity to respond.

    I am writing you in response to your inquiry regarding the Cumberland Fully Cooked Natural Juice Semi Boneless 12" ham. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention. The website is incorrect. The price per pound is actually $2.39. I have made marketing aware so they could correct this information on our website. In addition, I have talked with store management and they will honor the price of $0.39/lb for one ham. If you have any questions while purchasing this ham please feel free to talk with A___ B____, the Assistant Store Manager for Fresh.

    Again, thank you for contacting us, DSL., and for choosing H________. If we can further assist you, please do not hesitate to let us know.

    Hello DSL.,

    I just wanted to take a moment to respond to your recent comment via our customer information line. I reviewed the H________ Website and found the item you were referring to. I found that this was a typographical error, and the retail is actually supposed to be $2.39/lb. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for bringing this to our attention, and assure you it has been brought to the attention of our marketing department. I will also be willing to sell you one of the hams in question for the price of $0.39/lb. Thank you for choosing to shop with us, and please let me know when you will be coming in so that I can make arrangements for you to purchase a ham at the discount price.

    ReplyDelete
  8. gcallah3:36 PM

    "6-pound ham listed at 39 cents a pound, or $2.39 total"

    Although my reasoning abilities don't match up to those of Silas, I'm pretty sure a number ending in a 6 times a number ending in a 9 has result in a number ending in a 4.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Scott Lahti9:15 PM

    Through the dark and cloudy medium of my words above, I now see, the light of the still-bright and still-uncorrected website message I tried to channel has slipped 'twixt cup and lip (type in 04090 and click the Wells store when asked):

    http://is.gd/bSP6Ho

    ReplyDelete

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