I thought it would be fun to embark on an online comparison shopping exercise here once in a while to challenge ourselves with the problem of finding an appropriate, acceptable alternative to expensive inventions being touted as stuff that would make our lives so much better.
Here’s where this idea came about: earlier on, I wrote a post about “dumb business ideas that clicked” and that made their inventors rich. After writing from the point of view of the inventor, I wanted to look at things from the point of view of the consumer. I thought, sure, there can be silly ideas that make money, but I wondered if they deserved such success. Do these ideas and inventions really deserve our money? Or can we as consumers see through the hype well enough to know that cheaper alternatives do exist and are preferred over those newfangled, hot offerings that are advertised by our retailers?
Since I’m such a catalog collector (or magnet, as per advertisers out there); I must receive a dozen a month — I am swimming in resources for this new experiment. The idea is to find pricey products in catalogs or stores that are masquerading as “innovative” items you can’t possibly live without. These are things that are desiring of good, loving homes that will enjoy their use and get their money’s worth. Instead, I’ll uncover the truth about these products — that they aren’t as innovative as you may think because alternatives do exist. Whatever it is, cheaper and equally effective options aren’t that hard to find.
Let’s take the test and find out your buyer’s intelligence quotient (Buyer’s IQ).
For each of the following items, can you spot the cheaper alternative? And can you suggest additional, more frugal options? Do some of these products seem redundant enough to be eligible for the junk bin? You be the judge!
Pair #1
One of these items retails for $29.95 and the other is for $19.97.
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Pair #2
The fancy item costs $39.95 while the double duty item can go as low as $14.99 for twice the function!
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Pair #3
Guess which one just costs $16.32 while the modern day version retails at $69.95.
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Pair #4
The portable one is yours for $13.77 while the heavy duty one that takes up much more space is priced at $59.95.
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If you picked all A’s as pricey inessentials, then your Buyer’s IQ is up there (as far as I’m concerned)!
It’s pretty ironic that many needless items can indeed sell, because there’s a market for such things. There are people who surprisingly enough to me, do buy these products whether or not they have the money, which of course accounts for the success and presence of such redundant products everywhere. Would you consider these more expensive inventions really original? Do they add any real value to your life? In some of the cases, I think that they can actually be more trouble than they are worth. After all, electronic items break. A big plastic apparatus that can engulf your entire head may not be that easy to store away.
As a consumer, I’d like to see more things: gadgets, inventions, items, merchandise that really make a difference, and that are hopefully affordable enough for most people, instead of recycled ideas in the guise of slicker, but pricier products. Where’s the innovation here? If I found it, I’d be happy to reward true innovation with my money and business. But then again, innovation is in the eye of the beholder, and oftentimes happens incrementally.
< If something catches your eye that has a high cost plus low usage factor that you’d like to share, then let’s hear about it. I’d like to thank GolbGuru @ Money, Matters and More Musings for inspiring this idea with one of my favorite frugal posts of all time: How To Flush $299 Down The Toilet, where he reviews a fish tank toilet.>
SVB, thanks for the mention
You’re welcome Golb!
That toilet post is in my Hall of Post Fame.
I was looking at a few of the pairs and at first I agreed with you. Then I looked at it some more…
In Pair #1, the more expensive light uses 3 AA batteries and since LEDs use less power, you can bet it lasts some time (though we don’t know). Also it focuses light in a beam straight ahead like a flashlight. the second lantern uses 8 D batteries and doesn’t focus light forward like the flashlight. It lasts from 18-28 hours depending on use.
In Pair #2, the child’s chair doesn’t have the support handle functionality. It does have the chair back, but you’d have to bend down to use it as a handle, which defeats the purpose.
In Pair #3, the electronic version seems to include three versions of the bible (performing triple duty). It also has quick search functionality and it’s pretty compact for travel. It’s not exactly the equivalent as the dead tree version
In Pair #4, you can see the person relaxing while her hair is drying. It’s possible that she could be reading a book with her free hands - She could be productive for 10 minutes a day vs. the hand-held hair dryer. What would 10 minutes a day be worth to you?
I think a case can be made that the best tool for a lot of jobs is the more expensive version. And in some ways the more expensive item is cheaper in the long run.
Hi Lazy,
I knew someone would come right out and challenge the test! Well and good! I like the debate this brings up. What this tells you is that cheaper may not always be better, it may depend on what you need.
For Pair #1, if I don’t use flashlights too often, I may still want to get the cheaper lantern anyway. It may take me longer to make up the price difference between the two products.
For Pair #2, I agree with you about the support issue and the chair is representative of the idea I wanted to impart. There could be other items you can use (or cheaper stools) than the fancy support stool/stand being sold. If you’re young and sprightly, a simple stool or low chair may be a reasonable idea. If you’re old and rickety, it’s pretty much out of the question.
For Pair #3 I’d still prefer the book version though. I realize there are features in the electronic version but I think the book will last longer, just a feeling.
For Pair #4 Hmmmm….I do use a non hands free hair dryer and am able to read while using it nevertheless. Would I enjoy seeing my visage on the mirror? Not sure though. What really does bug me is how big and clunky the bonnet hair dryer appears — to me, space is a valuable commodity, as much as time is. And anything occupying extra space in my environs, is suspect.
Great points though. I agree that ultimately it’s not just price but quality and value of what it adds to your life.
[...] Valley Blogger has a great frugality quiz. I had to respectively disagree on a couple of points, but it’s good to compare purchases [...]
1) The expensive one is ugly. And the Coleman uses 8 D batteries!?!
2) I’m tall enough that I don’t need a stool. However, my wife has access to 3 stools and any dining room chair. She always goes for the dining room chair.
3) Get the regular Bible. You’ll be glad you did.
4) I can assure you 100% that you’ll want to sell that stupid hair dryer after 2 weeks of it sitting on your dining room table. It will be sitting there because you won’t have anywhere else to put it conveniently.
You could also just go bald like Britney (or me).
Carnival of Shopping #10…
Good day. I’d like to make it clear upfront that I will only take questions about hairstyles. So what’s up this week? First off, Grad Money Matters displays the tragic result of too much shopping and too little psychotherapy: houses……
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I heard somewhere that shopaholics often will buy items and never use them, even leaving the price tags in place. It’s the experience of shopping, apparently, that’s important, not the utility of the thing bought. I don’t understand this, but, I guess it happens. Probably filling some void in their lives. Thanks for allowing me to be an amateur pshychiatrist.