Many of us at times wander the aisles or racks of our favorite store just surfing the prices and products for what seems interesting. Other times we beat the pavement on a mission to buy “only what we need.” Businesses know this, and they are getting better at convincing us of what we need.
Pick Pocket - by Todd WhiteIt is a simple calculation. For every thing there is an industry. Lurking behind each one are thousands of supporting business making money convincing you to buy into that industry.
Take the industry of fashion. They parcel up clothing based on customers wealth, culture, and susceptibility to advertising. They feed certain lines of clothing with ads and celebrities to appeal. Some lines of clothes are made cheap while others with medium, and higher grade materials.
Here are three references to avoid being conned into a predictable shopping pattern.
Products backed by the latest tween, teen, or young adult celebrity will mean that your going to pay more than you should. Plus the item is a lot more likely to be of cheaper quality.The same applies for buying items branded with TV shows, movies, or famous people. The Reason: Celebs, corporations, and fads all follow the trend of appealing to those enamored by who or what they represent. They cash in by selling unrelated products that have appeal to people who crave status (youngsters, young adults, and parents who can not say no).
Products that tout someone famous on them or that they are such high quality, are in fact mid-range products. Most of these companies use the celebrities to pose their products so that you get the feeling of – “only the best choose this” or “it must be good for so and so to be promoting it”. The Reason: If they can have you think that their quality is high they can justify making you pay more for mid-grade. This is where the majority of consumers buy and most malls advertise about.
Products which are expensive and backed by popular people are typically high quality. You just can not look rich if you don’t pay for it, is the mentality these brands push. It is true in part only. Reality is that for the best materials you will have to pay more, but there can be a happy medium.The Reason: When a company makes a really good product it is often due to good research, quality materials, and niche 
marketing. Yet someone has to pay for all of that. Hence the price of the item. Most of us will shop for something less.
Finding Happiness
Happiness can be found in the thrift stores, especially those near large cities. Often brand name high quality clothes that are gently used can find their way into these stores at unbeatable prices. Plus some stores do a good job of making quality mid grade items that imitate high quality styles. Also you just can’t beat a good coupon or sale.
Tell us how companies in your area are trying to con you!