Car dealers without a doubt. Maybe not a Porsche dealer but I see plenty of example from Toyota or most mass market car dealers. There is something about car that brings out the worst in them.
I don't think any market is sacred now.
Just look at the shrinking portion sizes on food shelves.
Just look at the shrinking portion sizes on food shelves.
I thought this thread was going to be pretty salacious, but then I realized "profession" was probably the wrong word for the topic.
Airlines used to be the worst in Canada, with advertised prices bearing little relation to the final total, but government legislation cleaned that up. I remember 20 years ago when I would book a flight over the phone, it was such a black box that I wouldn't be surprised if the ticket agent adjusted price based on how hard you negotiated.
Car dealers are pretty bad, but I always avoid them. I've never purchased a new vehicle and I'm 51.
Home electronics is pretty bad. I believe they produce essentially the same product with model numbers specific to the store to make it difficult to comparison shop.
Airlines used to be the worst in Canada, with advertised prices bearing little relation to the final total, but government legislation cleaned that up. I remember 20 years ago when I would book a flight over the phone, it was such a black box that I wouldn't be surprised if the ticket agent adjusted price based on how hard you negotiated.
Car dealers are pretty bad, but I always avoid them. I've never purchased a new vehicle and I'm 51.
Home electronics is pretty bad. I believe they produce essentially the same product with model numbers specific to the store to make it difficult to comparison shop.
Sometimes called "shrinkflation". Rather than raise the price, which you will notice, they reduce the portion size. Loaves of bread used to be 24 ounces or a pound and a half. Some still are, but many have already changed to 20 ounces.
Some online stuff is priced by who they think you are. Sometimes it helps to become anonymous to see what the open market price is.
One of the worst for that, apparently, are price comparison sites.
One of the worst for that, apparently, are price comparison sites.
Snake oil stuff sellers.
Anyway, I second leadbelly's opinion that the market section you're talking about mustn't be praised as "profession".
There's also a word "Profession" in the German language. It has to be used very restrictively and exclusively for priests, jurists, physicians and dentists, thus separating them from all the other occupations and jobs.
Best regards!
Anyway, I second leadbelly's opinion that the market section you're talking about mustn't be praised as "profession".
There's also a word "Profession" in the German language. It has to be used very restrictively and exclusively for priests, jurists, physicians and dentists, thus separating them from all the other occupations and jobs.
Best regards!
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At first line a very high grade of challenge as the major drive to execute these professions, further on their high educational grade as academics, their professional ethics, their freedom in finding decisions and in execution, and, at least in Germany, their professional organization in well defined bodies.
Best regards!
Best regards!
at the risk of censure for using the "P" word, I'd say politicians
scott - we're waiting for the punch line ....
scott - we're waiting for the punch line ....
Haha, yeah I know, I wondered whether it was dresses....but physicians and dentists don't wear them to my knowledge, well not here anyway.
Bait & Switch is an old sales tactic, anytime anyone is selling anything to you, it can be utilized. I find the worst offenders in home appliances, furniture, mattresses, and grocery stores are not averse to it either, although they can get away with it because they rely on the consumer to bait and switch themselves. Nice work if you can get it. But essentially my experiences just reflect what I've been buying; yours will probably reflect the same.
The legal form is loss leaders with limited quantities; you have to say those words out loud and then it's legit. You do need to have sufficient quantity on hand to satisfy some consumer demand, but no more than that. "We're sold out, but we have this one ... " You can fill in the rest.
If you really want to see some pro bait and switchers, take your wife somewhere to choose items for a home reno. You may as well not be there (and you can step back and see them at work, which is always a good consumer education); all the effort is on her, and many women are susceptible to bait and switch when it comes to outfitting their nests. I've seen some otherwise frugal and money-wise women fall hard. Just don't commit to buying anything.
You can replay the same exercise only go to a reseller that happens to sell whatever pushes your buttons, let the wife watch, then you both learn some valuable lessons, and learn them together. Together you both will save money for the rest of your life.
The legal form is loss leaders with limited quantities; you have to say those words out loud and then it's legit. You do need to have sufficient quantity on hand to satisfy some consumer demand, but no more than that. "We're sold out, but we have this one ... " You can fill in the rest.
If you really want to see some pro bait and switchers, take your wife somewhere to choose items for a home reno. You may as well not be there (and you can step back and see them at work, which is always a good consumer education); all the effort is on her, and many women are susceptible to bait and switch when it comes to outfitting their nests. I've seen some otherwise frugal and money-wise women fall hard. Just don't commit to buying anything.
You can replay the same exercise only go to a reseller that happens to sell whatever pushes your buttons, let the wife watch, then you both learn some valuable lessons, and learn them together. Together you both will save money for the rest of your life.
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Johnny - your third paragraph is exactly the type of patronizing generalization of womens' behaviour that gives men a bad name 😀
Of the several significant females in my life, none would fail to see through the tactics you describe - maybe I've just been lucky ?
Of the several significant females in my life, none would fail to see through the tactics you describe - maybe I've just been lucky ?
Just educate yourself beforehand and then buy "the best tool/toy for the job".
No need to listen to some seller.
No need to listen to some seller.
Put two of either of these in a room and you'll get three opinions ?
I should know, I tick two of these boxes.
Think it was a week ago, I broke the glass on my wood oven, felt really stupid...
Started reading up on glass, did you know glass can be both metal and non-metal? It depends on the atomic sub-structure, whether it is amorphous or crystalline. But a ceramic glass can be both pending on the phase. There are also ceramic glasses that have negative coefficient of thermal expansion!
So yeah, glass is also really interesting. I did find a cheap glass cutter that had good quality glass for ovens, paid 2/5ths the price of going through the brand/oven manufacturer route. Tried talking about the various atomic sub-structures of different types of glass with the poor kid behind the counter. He actually seemed somewhat interested, until his eyes started glazing over... I think I need to learn some social code of conduct that may have eluded me. I always find a cheap good quality solution though.
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