If It Is Not Marketed To Us, Do We Find It As Valuable?
Trying to make the most of not marketed find valuable? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.
Key Takeaways
- SharePinTweetShare0 SharesYou have probably succumbed to the late night infomercials and bought something you really didn’t need. When...
- Chances are I wouldn’t have even thought to buy the Ped Egg if I hadn’t seen the commercials endlessly.
- It Is Not Just Consumer Products It is not just consumer products that seem more valuable the more they are marketed to us.
You have probably succumbed to the late night infomercials and bought something you really didn’t need. When my son was small and we were making homemade baby food, we frequently thought of buying the Magic Bullet blender, but we resisted. However, my vanity won out when I paid a little less than $10 for a Ped Egg that was supposed to remove dry skin from your feet and is “so gentle it won’t break a balloon.” I don’t know what material that balloon was made of, but that Ped Egg hurt! And it didn’t help my feet.
Chances are I wouldn’t have even thought to purchase the Ped Egg if I hadn’t seen the commercials endlessly.
It Is Not Just Consumer Products
It is not just consumer products that seem more valuable the more they are marketed to us.
Peter recently posted about an experiment violin virtuoso Joshua Bell participated in where he played for 45 minutes in a Washington D.C. subway. Nearly 1,100 people walked by, and only 7 stopped to watch for at least a minute. He received $32 in donations. Keep in mind people pay $100 a ticket to watch him play in concert halls.
Peter’s takeaway was that people are too busy living their lives, focusing on the future, to stop and enjoy the here and now. I agree with him completely, but I also saw it differently.
Numerous people are probably not music aficionados. They likely may not know who Joshua Bell is. But what if there had been advertising, “See world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell perform for free at the Washington D.C. subway”. My guess is that numerous music lovers would show up, as would numerous others who know nothing about music simply because someone “famous” was going to be there. (Saying it is free might also help draw in the crowds.)
Frequently, if people are told that they should care and that something is key, they believe it. The Washington Post, who orchestrated the experiment (excuse the pun), made no mention of who was performing. To numerous, Joshua Bell was just another street performer, and as such, no one gave him much attention. Had they known who he was and why he is significant, the reaction might have been different.
Evaluate Status Symbols Carefully
Rolex watches are hundreds to even thousands of dollars to purchase. Does that mean they work hundreds of times better than other watches? I doubt it. Actually, who needs a watch now when everyone has cell phones and smart phones? Yet, numerous people want a Rolex to show that they have arrived.
BMWs are nice vehicles, but are they worth $20,000 to $50,000 more than other affordable cars? I doubt it. Sure they might be a step up from your typical sedan, but not worth as much as buying another entire vehicle for the cost difference. People want a BMW because they have been marketed to and are convinced a BMW is a sign of the wealth and a way to show that they have arrived.
Think of the numerous things we purchase and consume every day because we are “taught” that we need them or that they are key to everyday life thanks to marketers. Think of Joshua Bell, a man who is used to audiences watching his performance and listening with rapt attention performing for 1,100 people, of whom only 7 gave him any of their attention.
No marketer convinced the commuters that Joshua Bell was key, so almost no one stopped.
What are you missing because no one told you it was key? What are you spending money on needlessly just because someone told you that you had to have it?
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Final Thoughts
Before you check out, double-check not marketed find valuable against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.
Originally published at biblemoneymatters.com.
Melissa
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