Framing - they always get me

Ever though about the effects a discount can have on you. Ever purchase something because you got a coupon at the door at the store? Many questions like these pop into my head when I think about framing and how companies frame prices to make them look better and more "convenient" for the consumer.

Recently I had to finish up a little shopping for my apartment and was walking through all the major stores that you can think of along a strip. Wal-Mart, Target, Stop & Shop, Job Lot, etc. Normally I wouldn't go into both Target and Wal-Mart, but since Wal-Mart didn't have the right product I was looking for I thought Target might. The only thing I was looking for at this point was a coffee table or something like it to put in the living room. So that was it .... a coffee table.

When I walked into Target, a salseperson immediately approached me and gave me a coupon telling me to try this new type of coffee they had for sale and it was buy 2 get one free. I was too excited to not purchase them so I didn't even look for my coffee table and bought the coffee instead. Thing is though ... the coffee cost $12.00 / pound. Kinda seemed reasonable and since I was getting this fantastic new product that had very cool packaging. Turns out I was only paying for the packaging.

Later I found out that I can purchase Dunkin Donuts coffee for $7.99 / pound, which is much more tasteful than this crap that I spent way to much money on.

What impulsed me to purchase this new product instead of my everyday Dunkins? Framing.

Target reeled me in with this, what looked to be, a great coupon for a crappy product. When they framed the product to making it look like I could get "more for less" I cracked and thought I would venture into purchasing it. From now on I make sure to look past the "flashiness" of new products and framed products and rather, use what I know to judge how I will purchase something.

Better luck next time Dave!

Joining In / Staying Out

To start this blog off, I wanted to be a little different. Check out the latest moto Jeep has created in their commercials; "I Live, I Ride, I Am ... Jeep." This video is located in another blog called "Sunchasers."

Jeep.

Just your average four wheel drive car that has the ability to go off-terrain. Although it may not be the most luxurious drive you will ever have, it is one of the most exciting.

People who have Jeeps know the feeling when they drive down the street. The feeling of every pot hole that you hit and every bump that does not get absorbed into the shocks of the car. To be honest though, when we purchased our Jeep's, we knew what we were paying for. Not luxury but excitment, and although I do not have the Jeep Wrangler, I have a Jeep and still feel obligated to beep at every other person driving a Jeep, simply because of the logo. Although there is nothing special about this logo, it still is a symbol that holds many drivers together. I do not know half of the people, more like seventy-five percent of the people who I wave to when I drive my Jeep, but I don't care. And neither do they.

Having a Jeep is different becuase it is more of an outdoorsy type of car and that's why I like it. I cannot say that I am much of an outdoors person because I am not one to just go outside and spend the majority of my time hiking or playing in the woods, but in my Jeep I feel like I am and it takes me away from the reality of everyday life of class and work.

To those of you who drive a Jeep you know the feeling. Sadly, I sold my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee this evening, but with a little help from my parents, we are looking to buy another Jeep in the near future.

"I Live, I Ride, I Am ... Jeep."

Sunchasers

The Pretty Good Problem...

Everyone knows there is a certain way people dress when they come from Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. In my case, I find that many of my friends like to pick on some of the clothes I wear. Recently I made a purchase from Vineyard Vines, a Martha's Vineyard store that is known for their "preppy" like clothing that always makes people turn their heads when someone wears them.

This purchase was similar to many purchases I had made before but the thing that was different was the location that I would be wearing them. It was a bathing suit that was bright orange with sailboats on them. Sounds ordinary, until you wear them off Cape and here at school. While wearing these shorts, I felt the "purple cow" factor and realized that what made my shorts remarkable, was the fact that no one else was wearing them and they were different from what students here considered "normal."

I like my shorts and although they are different from what other people wear, knowing Seth Godin's criterion about "remarkable" makes it easier to know that they are not only different but they are remarkable.

And then it made me think...huh?

The other day I was home watching some tv with my mom, when she read the most interesting article to me. "Did you hear about the flying car?" was how she started. I knew this was going to be an interesting conversation and an interesting article so I knew I should listen to her.

As she read the article and told me all about the interesting new "flying car," I couldn't help but think "Huh? Is this what the world has come too?"

Everyone has always dreamed of flying their own car or going into space and everyday, new advancements into the technology world allow us to gain more access to these things. The article about the flying car was interesting but made me think about the possibility of actually owning one of these cars. First of all, there are restrictions and special rules to the car. Do you have to have your pilots license? Do you have to have experience flying before? Can you take off and avoid traffic? All these questions came to mind and only the third one was answered within the article.

You can not just take off and avoid traffic. You need a physical airline runway. How ridiculous is that? You actually need to take-off in your car in order to avoid 30 minutes of traffic. Let's see...spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to save yourself 30 minutes in traffic and risk your life, or spend 30 grand on a car that will make you sit in traffic, but you know you can't fall from the sky. I'll save the money thanks!

If you want to read the article, take a look at it here...Flying Car!!

When I bought my phone...

When asked to write about a time I purchased something, I think the most memorable purchases come from the times I purchased things on eBay.com. About two months ago I purchased a new phone off of eBay, my Blackberry Curve 8520. Although this is one of themost expensive purchases I have ever made on this website, it turned out to be not that bad.

While dealing with eBay you really have to look at the credibility of the buyer and thoroughly analyze the description of the item before you place your bid. Sometimes when you think you like the item, it turns out you have not read the small print. Most of the items sold on eBay are credible and accurately described but occassionally you will get an idiot who forgets to add some important functions on the phone that have been tampered with or broken, or they purposefully forgot to put it in the description. If an item seems to good to be true, I make sure to ask the seller a question and wait for their response before I send my bid their way. If the buyer is looking to sell the item quickly they will provide you with the information you are looking for as well as other information you may want to know, prior to you asking them.

With the purchase of my newest BlackBerry I made sure I performed a thorough investigation on the item and really REALLY looked at the information in the description. Although the item cost nearly $175, I felt comfortable paying the price. Within the weeks prior to purchasing the phone, I sold six items that came out to nearly $230. Thus when I purchased my phone it felt as though I did not have to pay for it and instead I was getting the phone and about fifty bucks at the same time.

From the time I purchased the phone until know I have been pleased with my purchase and I continue to use eBay for many purchases. I have also started selling more and more items on eBay which are giving me a little extra cash. Being a college student, receiving money is always good.

September the 2nd

So here it is. That first blog that everyone is anxiously awaiting the arrival of. Personally I do not see the point of writing a blog, but it is a nice time to just "brain dump" some of the days activities and try to make yourself seem a little "normal." Even though we all know that does not happen.

For the first blog, I thought I would offer y'all a little information about myself to get yourselves acquainted with me. My name is David, I am originally from Cape Cod, Bourne to be exact, but throughout the school year I reside in good old Bristol, RI. I can't really complain about the places I've lived simply because I have never left the ocean. Roger Williams is the first choice of school for myself simply because of how much it reminded me of being home. Having this feeling is what kept me returning each year. I am currently a junior, double majoring in Marketing and Mathematics. Math has started to get tedious and sometimes too time-consuming so I don't think I will keep it a major, but for the time being it is there.

Marketing struck me as interesting only because it is a way to get away from the number crunching that Math provides on a daily basis. There is a nice balance between the two which makes life interesting and as long as there is new information for me to find and work with, I'll be all set.

School plays a large role in my life and when I am not in class, and the weather is nice, I like to revert back to home and relax "Capeside," right on the beach.

That's all I have for you know, but check back later and I should have a little more information for you that might strike you as interesting. Not promising anything though.

See ya!