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Dan Ariely gives a related TED talk: "Are we in control of our own decisions?" http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.

Dan Ariely gives a related TED talk: "Are we in control of our own decisions?" http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.html http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_o... Look around 11:30 for a few examples of how comparing options affects us more than looking at each individually. On a side note, it also seems inexpensive because it's $499 and not $500! Psychological pricing is one of my larger pet peeves...

orangecat 16y ago
On a side note, it also seems inexpensive because it's $499 and not $500! Psychological pricing is one of my larger pet peeves... Ditto. That's why I round up when somebody asks me how much something costs. The mathematical error resulting from using $500 instead of $499 is much less than the psychological error induced by the smaller first digit.
- mcantor 16y ago
  It really drives me crazy when I'm discussing products with a salesperson and they consistently "correct" me every time I mention the rounded-up price. It goes like this: Sales: So it looks like the $299 point-and-shoot might match the features you're looking for, moreso than this $399 video camera. Me: OK. I'm really leaning towards the $300 one. Sales: $299. Me: Yeah, sure. Because I don't know if I'm really going to get my money's worth, paying an extra hundred for the $400 one. Sales: $399. Me: (uppercuts salesperson into the stratosphere)
  - ugh 16y ago
    Is that really something you experienced? That didn’t ever happen to me. If a salesperson treated me like that I would pretty much immediately lose all respect for them.
    - gaius 16y ago
      That's what they've been told to do, it's not their fault. It's like if you go into a Pepsi venue and ask for a coke, they will always say "Pepsi". Now I just want some sort of cola-flavoured beverage, I'm not that fussed, and they know that, but I don't think "this person is such a pedant" or think I'm being disrespected.
      - mcantor 16y ago
        Believe it or not, I actually appreciate this, since if I ask for a Coke and I get a Pepsi, I can tell and my tastebuds are disappointed. So if they say, "Oh, we only do Pepsi," I can say, "Then, I'll have a water," or something.
paraschopra 16y ago
Dan Ariely's book Predictably Irrational is also highly recommended! It contains numerous such examples.
- Shamiq 16y ago
  I have a copy if anyone wants to take it off my hands. Just pay the shipping :)
hugh3 16y ago
This doesn't bother me as much as the movie-popcorn pricing system, which seems to be rapidly spreading to everything (Cold Stone and Jamba Juice are two particularly egregious offenders). You can have the miniscule size for $5, the "medium" size for $5.75, or the insanely large size for $6.95. Of course they never even expected to sell the other two sizes, they're only there to make the medium size (which is still way more than I wanted to eat) look cheap. While I'm on the subject, here's a fun fact: a chocolate-peanut-butter flavoured milkshake from Cold Stone, in their largest size, contains over two thousand calories.
- eru 16y ago
  By the large one and share it.
- nitrogen 16y ago
  While I'm on the subject, here's a fun fact: a chocolate-peanut-butter flavoured milkshake from Cold Stone, in their largest size, contains over two thousand calories. Sounds like a great way for a highly active person to put on weight.

orangecat 16y ago

On a side note, it also seems inexpensive because it's $499 and not $500! Psychological pricing is one of my larger pet peeves... Ditto. That's why I round up when somebody asks me how much something costs. The mathematical error resulting from using $500 instead of $499 is much less than the psychological error induced by the smaller first digit.

mcantor 16y ago
It really drives me crazy when I'm discussing products with a salesperson and they consistently "correct" me every time I mention the rounded-up price. It goes like this: Sales: So it looks like the $299 point-and-shoot might match the features you're looking for, moreso than this $399 video camera. Me: OK. I'm really leaning towards the $300 one. Sales: $299. Me: Yeah, sure. Because I don't know if I'm really going to get my money's worth, paying an extra hundred for the $400 one. Sales: $399. Me: (uppercuts salesperson into the stratosphere)
- ugh 16y ago
  Is that really something you experienced? That didn’t ever happen to me. If a salesperson treated me like that I would pretty much immediately lose all respect for them.
  - gaius 16y ago
    That's what they've been told to do, it's not their fault. It's like if you go into a Pepsi venue and ask for a coke, they will always say "Pepsi". Now I just want some sort of cola-flavoured beverage, I'm not that fussed, and they know that, but I don't think "this person is such a pedant" or think I'm being disrespected.
    - mcantor 16y ago
      Believe it or not, I actually appreciate this, since if I ask for a Coke and I get a Pepsi, I can tell and my tastebuds are disappointed. So if they say, "Oh, we only do Pepsi," I can say, "Then, I'll have a water," or something.

paraschopra 16y ago

Dan Ariely's book Predictably Irrational is also highly recommended! It contains numerous such examples.

Shamiq 16y ago
I have a copy if anyone wants to take it off my hands. Just pay the shipping :)

hugh3 16y ago

This doesn't bother me as much as the movie-popcorn pricing system, which seems to be rapidly spreading to everything (Cold Stone and Jamba Juice are two particularly egregious offenders). You can have the miniscule size for $5, the "medium" size for $5.75, or the insanely large size for $6.95. Of course they never even expected to sell the other two sizes, they're only there to make the medium size (which is still way more than I wanted to eat) look cheap. While I'm on the subject, here's a fun fact: a chocolate-peanut-butter flavoured milkshake from Cold Stone, in their largest size, contains over two thousand calories.

eru 16y ago
By the large one and share it.
nitrogen 16y ago
While I'm on the subject, here's a fun fact: a chocolate-peanut-butter flavoured milkshake from Cold Stone, in their largest size, contains over two thousand calories. Sounds like a great way for a highly active person to put on weight.