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Comment by ratsmack | Hacker News Reader

Amazons 'tactics' are no different than any retailer of consumer goods. You see the deceptive practices applied especially in clothing where items are marketed at inflated prices and then suddenly dropped 50% or more for a 'sale'.

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>You see the deceptive practices applied especially in clothing where items are marketed at inflated prices and then suddenly dropped 50% or more for a 'sale'.

JCPenny's discovered that the consumer demands this behavior.

>JCPenny's discovered that the consumer demands this behavior.

Which really disappointed me. I was thrilled when they announced the no sales model and switched all my clothes buying to them - it’s so much less stressful. Several people I know were similar.

Unfortunately “all of my clothes buying” was like two pairs of pants, while the people I know who love finding a “deal” go shopping every weekend...

If I'm not mistaken, the then-CEO said it would take something like 6 years to cast off the old customers who are looking for sales and acquire their new, younger, less sale-seeking customers. The board agreed, then sacked him much earlier than the time he said it would take.

With Penney's in particular, you can pretty much just always assume a sale is going on. I go about twice a year, and in the past ~6 years, there's only been one day where the stuff I was buying (dress shirts and slacks, mainly) weren't at least "50% off". If you get unlucky and show up on the one day of the season where stuff is (I think this is how it works) legally required to be at regular price so they can mark it down, just come back the next weekend.

This is pretty much Kohl's business model. The list price is a joke and typically your "savings" will be 2-3x what you spent on any particular transaction. It's a dumb and obvious scheme, but it seems to work.

Kohl’s is a puzzling place to me. Bizarre coupons, a weird mix of products and wacky pricing. People actually go with their coupon to get another coupon, valid two weeks in the future when the prices are higher.

It's crazy, but true.

I shop there and they're all "You saved $111!" But I spent $35... and there's no way I'd spend $140+ on just this ever... this makes no sense...

You're not kidding. They're offering the Kindle Paperwhite for “$40 off”. It's “only” $79.99 right now.

But I bought mine a month ago at $89.99. They jacked the list price up to $119.99 just to fake the savings.

> But I bought mine a month ago at $89.99. They jacked the list price up to $119.99 just to fake the savings.

Was that the list price when you bought it, or was it on sale when you bought it as well?

It must've been on sale. The list price is actually 119.99, they just seem to like to discount it to $99.99 quite often and $89.99 occasionally.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Amazon-Kindle-Paperwhite-6-Inch-...

Too late to edit my comment. Turns out I got it on a different sale. The $119.99 appears to be a legitimate normal price.

"You see the deceptive practices applied especially in clothing where items are marketed at inflated prices and then suddenly dropped 50% or more for a 'sale'."

I've tried to explain this multiple times to my mom, but she just doesn't get it.

She keeps telling me that I shouldn't shop online but rather buy in local stores because they have these "great sales."

Your mom is still right. Clothes are usually easier to get and cheaper in person.

The thing that online wins for is specific items. For me shoes have to be bought online because I wear a 14, which stores do not stock.

Lest you think this is a new tactic, this was Wal-Mart's MO.

They are also experts in selling one microwave at cost or a slight loss. That's the one that goes on the end-cap and gets advertised in the flyers. The rest of them are the same price (or higher!) than other local retailers.

The important part is building consumer perception that they always have the lowest price. Everyone who buys a slightly better microwave pays $5-$10 more than if they bought it elsewhere but thinks they got the best price.

This is is regulated here in New Zealand, and is in breach of the law. http://www.comcom.govt.nz/fair-trading/fair-trading-act-fact...

It's illegal in most of Yurop iirc, at least here in Finland.

In Japan too.

True, but I believe that so far Amazon has a glow of trust (maybe people think online retailer of that size don't need to resort to tricks). Not sure how long it will shine.

I trusted Amazon in this regard that they weren't so stupid that they wouldn't get caught given how much they know about technology (in The Netherlands there's been a pricewatch website on Tweakers which is for tech related comparisons though localised for NL. Its been online for almost two decennia). Turns out, I was wrong.

sad isn't it ?

ps: when it comes to selling, there's no forbidden strategy unless it's illegal

That's a bit of a tautology, isn't it?

let me explain, you can always do something, unless you cannot do said thing.

Obviously. Critical thinking skills are in short supply.

If sales really saved people money all those fancy stores would have gone bankrupt long ago. "Oh yes Sir these shoes are €149 but for you I will go down to €99"

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