Comments on: How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off

By: Amalia

Amalia — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:35:33 +0000

What a great and entertaining post. Loved it!

By: What Is Money Worth To You? | How to Be Rich and Happy

What Is Money Worth To You? | How to Be Rich and Happy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:32:21 +0000

[...] wrote a post some while ago called 'How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off'. It goes into some detail about the techniques marketers use to help people part with their cash. [...]

By: Herbert

Herbert — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:46:10 +0000

Tim: Wow, I’d been a victim of these tactics for months (years?) but only now could I attach a name to them — loss aversion and anchoring.

But, I mean, it is legitimate and interesting marketing material — marketing and copywriting really interest me because of they show the psychological and emotional power of seemingly “dead” words.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:24:28 +0000

Many years ago, the hub and I were invited to a time share presentation where we “won” a camera and had to listen to their presentation to receive our prize. We went just to see it knowing they company would pull every trick out of their hat. In preparing for our visit, we DID leave all of our purchasing power at home, just in case they inoculated us with some sort of purchasing drug. It was hysterical. They even marched in some couple who “had just purchased a time share” for us to applaud. It was all priceless. When we were done, and didn’t buy a single minute of time share, they didn’t really want to give us our well earned camera. We finally got it and it was, as expected, a piece of crap. But we did the whole thing for cheap entertainment anyway so no harm no foul.

By: Tim Brownson

Tim Brownson — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:24:24 +0000

@ Deb – Well now we have spoken and I know you a bit better, that’ll be what I do next time ;-)

@ Cath – Quick tell everybody I only have one place left on my blogger coaching thingy for July!

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:39:00 +0000

Hi Tim – This is sound advice. I must admit, even though I know it’s a ploy, I’ve fallen into the exact same trap you described before. Scarcity is great at tricking you into wanting something you didn’t really want at all.

By: Deb Owen

Deb Owen — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:54:53 +0000

Of course you did bad, Tim. You should have said, “Run! Run! Sign up now before it’s too late! But wait, there’s more…..”
haha

And nah.
You can’t do wrong by me.
At least you said you thought I was ‘clued up’. That’s a good thing.

All the best!
deb

Deb Owens last blog post..get your creative groove back and get back in the zone

By: Tim Brownson

Tim Brownson — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:19:26 +0000

@ Tamsin – Thanks!

@ Chris – Was I that obvious? ;-)

@ Nathalie – I’m still thinking of putting my name on the ‘waiting list’ because I would like to do it!

@ Karen – You will have ‘fallen’ for all of the above, because we all do. That doesn’t mean you weren’t glad you bought the stuff and made the correct decision, but you would have been influenced by the process. It’s literally impossible not to be. It’s a scary thought but we’re all in the same boat ;-)

@ Evelyn – When you make the decision, don’t ‘own’ the training before you do it. If you see yourself doing it and partaking that will make a rational decision harder to make even though it seems the sensible approach. Disengage and then listen to your gut feeling.

@ Stephen – Did you know more than 70% of people that have a gym membership go less than once per month? That is classic loss avoidance.

By: Stephen - Rat Race Trap

Stephen - Rat Race Trap — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:13:04 +0000

Tim, I loved this. Your humor gets me every time. I’ve bought so much crap that I can’t believe it. I’m always afraid I’m going to miss something. I have subscriptions that I don’t even use but I don’t cancel them because, well, I might miss something!

Great stuff!

Stephen – Rat Race Traps last blog post..Living Now – Part I

By: Evelyn Lim

Evelyn Lim — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:03:05 +0000

Is this a sign or what???!!? I am about to pay for a high-priced workshop and have been deep in analysis on how badly I want it. Granted it is something that will benefit me but the price is putting me off!

On the side, I am told that if I don’t write copy that follows the standard internet marketing type, I will not be optimizing on sales!

Evelyn Lims last blog post..Madness Is Just a Disguise